Tirthankar Mahavir and His Sarvodaya Tirth

Author(s): Hukamchand Bharilla, K C Lalwani
Publisher: Kundkund Kahan Digambar Jain Trust

Page 50

TIRTHANKARA MAHAVIRA AND HIS SARVODAYA TIRTHA
mentals, 2 not because I resolved the difficulties of the two monks If on seeing a material object some one acquires knowledge, will you call that material object a Sanmati ? A material object may be an instrument of knowledge, and very often So The spectacles are a material object, but they are helpful to vision Well, the five objective senses are inanımate and so is speech, because speech is a category of matter (pudgala), and books consist of paper and ink, all these are considered to be the instruments of knowledge, but does that mean that all of them are Sanmatı I am a Sanmatı because of my right knowledge,
because I am instrumental in resolving the difficulty of some people. And what the monks had said is also correct, but it is an attribution which is particularly used in an expression of devotion, or even in addressing some one. But we must understand what is what, -and we must take it in a right spirit."
The fellow princes were deeply impressed by the logical and polite words of Vardhamana Likewise the other four names conferred on him from time to time were honorific titles, but he had no interest in them, nor had he accepted them, but does an affectionate world pay any heed to these ? People were addressing him by different names.
Prince Vardhamana was graceful by birth with proportionate limbs in a well-balanced body but as he completed his adolescence and entered into youth, each and every limb became remarkable in beauty. The story of his superhuman beauty, strength, valour, heroism, intellect and conscience was widely discussed all over the country
Being impressed by his superhuman grace and valour many a king approached king Siddhartha with a request to wed their daughters, more beautiful than the nymphs, with prince Vardhamana but the latter was not at all inclined to agree Even the parents made pressing request for his marriage but he was decided to conquer his senses. Many efforts were made to tie him in the household, but he was already determined with the help of his soul which by its nature is free to be rid of all the worldly ties
2 tatyartha nirnayatprāpya sanmatitvain subodha vak, Uttarapurana, 74/2.