Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 291

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burned by the forest-fire of evil : you alone are the only light for people confused by the blindness of delusion. You are a universal benefactor, like a shade-tree on a road, to the poor and the powerful, to fools and to the competent.”
After this panegyric, their eyes fixed on the Master's lotus-feet like bees, they said together: "Formerly our father divided his territories and kingdoms and distributed them suitably to Bharata and us, one to each of us. We remain satisfied with those same kingdoms, O Lord of the Earth. For the boundary indicated by the Master is not transgressed by well-behaved persons. The Lord of Bharata is not satisfied with his own kingdom and others that have been seized, O Blessed One, just as submarine fire is not quenched with water. Just as he has taken away kingdoms from other kings, Bharata wishes to take ours also. 'Abandon your kingdoms quickly, do service to me,' Bharata ordered us like enemies through messengers. How are we, self-respecting, to abandon the kingdoms given by our father at his mere order, like eunuchs? How shall we, indifferent to great wealth, do service ? Only the greedy do service which destroys pride. We do not wish to fight, which is imminent from not surrendering our kingdoms and refusing service, without asking our father."
The Blessed Ādinātha in whose spotless omniscience the whole world is reflected, compassionate, instructed them as follows: “O sons, heroic men who lead a manly life must fight freely with the band of enemies causing injury. Love, hate, delusion, passions are enemies, bestowing worthless things on men even in one hundred births. Love, even in a good condition of existence (gati), is an iron chain on men's feet. Hate is a strong security for dwelling in hell; delusion has a wager to throw men in the whirlpool of the ocean of existence. Passions burn like fires their own dwellings. Therefore these enemies must be conquered by men fighting constantly with