Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 175

MAHĀVIRA'S OMNISCIENCE
135 “Acalabhrāts, your doubt is about good and evil. Do not entertain any doubt about them, since the fruit of good and evil is seen clearly among people just the same as from business. Long life, wealth, beauty, good health, birth in a good family, et cetera are the fruit of good; the opposites are the fruit of
evil.”
His doubt removed in this way by the Blessed One, Acalabhrātp became a mendicant together with three hundred disciples.
Metārya went to the Master and the Master said:
“This is your thought: “There is no future life in the form of reaching another birth. How can there be a future life of the soul having pure intelligence here in this life) from the form of a collection of elements-from its non-existence in the absence of elements ?' That is certainly false. The continuance of the soul separately from the elements (is evident) from the non-perception of consciousness even when the elements are collected. So consciousness is separate from the elements by the inherent nature of the soul. Therefore, the going to a future life would be from memory of former births, et cetera.”
Thus enlightened Metārya undertook mendicancy in the Master's presence accompanied by three hundred disciples.
Prabhāsa went to the Lord and the Blessed One said to him:
“Prabhāsa, your doubt is whether there is nirvāņa. Do not be in doubt. Nirvāṇa is emancipation (mokṣa); and it (mokşa) is destruction of karma. Karma is proved from the Veda and from the variety of conditions of the soul. Karma is destroyed by pure knowledge, belief, and conduct. So emancipation is evident to those having superior knowledge, sir."
Enlightened by the speech delivered by the Master, Prabhāsa took initiation, together with three hundred disciples.
These eleven, well-born, very intelligent, desiring emancipation, honored by everyone, were the original disciples of the