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CHAPTER NINE discriminating mind in food, even a layman is freed from worldly existence in course of time.”
First disciple (364–374)
After hearing the Lord's sermon, King Varadatta attained extreme disgust with existence, eager for the vow. Kțşņa bowed and asked: “ Every one is devoted to you; what is the reason for Rājīmati's extreme devotion ?” Then Nemi narrated his own relation with her for eight births, beginning with the birth as Dhana and Dhanavati. Then King Varadatta arose, bowed, and his hands folded respectfully, declared to Neminātha, the Lord of the World:
“Even laymanship taken from you would bear great results for creatures, like water from a cloud in the nakşatra Svāti.262 But, since you have been obtained as a guru, I am not satisfied with so much. Who wishes for mere dishes, when a wishing-tree has been obtained ? I wish to be your first disciple. Give me initiation, a boat for crossing worldly existence. Show compassion, O ocean of compassion.”
The Lord himself initiated the king talking in this way; and after him two thousand warriors became mendicants. Dhanadeva and Dhanadatta, (his) brothers from the Dhanabirth, the minister Vimalabodha from the Aparājita-birth, who had wandered through births with the Master, were three kings in this birth, and had come there from devotion to Rājīmatī. Their recollection of former births arose from hearing the former births and, a wealth of disgust with existence being produced in them), they took the vow at Ariştanemi's feet at that time.
Founding of congregation (375–382) Neminātha, the Teacher of the World, installed properly eleven gaṇabhrts, Varadatta and others, with them. The Master taught them the three-steps-permanence, origination,
262 368. Rain in Svāti is supposed to produce pearls. See I, n. 107,
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