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ARIŞTANÉMI’S SPORT, INITIATION, OMNISCIENCE 259 at Nemi friendly from (his) appearance.
“ Protect! Protect!” they said to Nemi, each in his own language. Neminātha, giving orders to the charioteer, had them released. When the animals had gone to their respective places, the Lord had the chariot turned back towards his own house. Śivā, Samudravijaya, Krşņa, Rāma, and others left their own conveyances and were in front of Nemi.
Sivă and Samudravijaya, their eyes filled with tears, said, “Why have you suddenly turned away from this festival ?” Nemi said: “ Just as these animals were bound by bonds, so we are bound by bonds of karma. Just as there was release from bondage for them, so I shall take initiation to make my own release from the bondage of karma—the sole source of happiness.”
On hearing Nemi's speech, the two swooned and all the Yadus cried out, their eyes downcast. After Janārdana had revived Sivā and Samudravijaya and had restrained the outcry, he said to Ariştanemi: “ Always you have been worthy of honor by, me, Rāma, and the fathers, honor-giver. This beauty of yours is unequaled and your youth fresh. Moreover, the daughter-in-law,239 lotus-eyed Rājīmati, is suitable for you. So tell the reason for your disgust with existence. These animals that you saw have been released. So fulfil the wish of your fathers and relatives. You can not disregard your parents immersed in grief. Show compassion common to all in this matter, brother. Just as these miserable animals have been gladdened by you, so gladden your brothers, Rāma and others, by the sight of your marriage.”
Blessed Nemi said: “I see no reason at all for sorrow of the parents nor of you, brother. This worldly existence, which has four states of existence in which pains must be experienced by creatures born in them, is the reason for my disgust with the world. In each birth there were other parents and brothers,
239 188. The loose use of terms of relationship is sometimes confusing. Rājīmati is a daughter of Ugrasena, hence a sister-in-law of Kșşņa. Kșşņa and Nemi are cousins. So snuşā is inaccurate for both present and future,
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