________________
.MAHĀVIRA'S WANDERING AS AN ASCETIC 105 the house of Sheth Abhinava. Why has he not acquired a big store of merit, lord ?" The omniscient explained: “The Arhat's fast was broken by Jinadatta in spirit. So he acquired birth in the heaven Acyuta after this birth. If he, having such a character, had not heard the sound of the drum 127 at that time, absorbed in meditation, he would have attained brilliant omniscience then. But, the stream of treasure, fruit in this world of the Arhat's fast-breaking was obtained by Sheth Abhinava, who is devoid of pure character. There is fruit arising from the Arhat's fast-breaking which is lacking in devotion and which is not lacking in devotion.”
After hearing that, the people, astonished, went to their respective homes.
Now the Blessed Vira, wandering in towns, villages, mines, towns approached by land and sea, et cetera, went to the city Suńsumāra. Observing a fast of three days, the Lord performed the penance lasting one night on a stone slab under an aśoka in the garden Asokakhanda there.
Indra Camara's attack on sakra (374-466)
Now there was a rich householder Püraņa in the hamlet Vibhela situated at the foot of the Vindhya (Mts.) in this same Bharata. One time during the night he thought: “Surely in a former birth I performed much penance, as a result of which I have this wealth and honor. For the good and bad fruit of former actions is obtained here. That is deduced by the state among people of master and servant. Wherefore, after abandoning my house and enlightening my people, I shall practice penance to obtain fruit in a future birth. For eight months by day a human must do that in youth and vigor-by means of which happiness thrives at the end.”
With these reflections, he fed his people at day-break, took leave of them for sake of the vow, and established his son in his place. He himself took the vow of penance called
127 369. It interrupted his meditation. 14 M
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
