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Mahābala went to the great monk Dharmaghosa and under his supervision took orders. For twelve years he practised as a monk several penances, travelled from place to place, held his discourses at all the places he visited and carried the message of enlightenment to every one that he met. One of these days when he was in a state of meditation, his soul left his body. He was then born as a god in Brahmalokakalpa.
Mahavira concluded the story of Mahabala and turned to Sudarsana and said that that was the story of his previous births. He further said, "you enjoyed all kinds of divine pleasures in the Brahmalokakalpa for a period of ten sāgaropamas. After that your life as a god was over and you were sent into this world as Sudarsana. That is what you now are. This way you will see time is measured in palyopama and sāgaropama and it is always subject to decay."
The account of his previous births made Sudarsana greatly enlightened. He attained the knowledge jätismarana, by which one was able to recall the account of one's previous births. He now felt doubly devoted to religion and lost whatever interest he had in the worldly life. He readily accepted religious orders at the hands of Mahavira and lived the life of an ascetic for twelve more years during which he practised severe penances.
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