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DISCOURSE 19
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jealous man, they are ineffectual and they do not constitute dharma. Jealousy jeopardises a man's spiritual life and brings about spiritual ruin whether he is a house-holder or a Sadhu; whether he is a boy or an old man; whether the person is a man or a woman. The spiritual fall of such a person is certain.
A FAMOUS STORY
We come across in the Shastras an excellent example. It is a historical story. There was a great Acharya by name Sambhuthi Vijay. He had a number of disciples. Some of them were men of great spiritual attainments. Some had made extraordinary sacrifices and some were engaged in carrying out austere spiritual endeavours. Once, in the city of Pataliputra, the capital of Magadha, a young man surrendered himself at the feet of that great Acharya. He was Sthulabhadra, the son of Shakatal, the Chief Minister in the court of Magadha.
THE GURUDEV HIMSELF PRAISES STHULABHADRA
I think all of you are familiar with the life-history of Sthulabhadra. You know that Sthulabhadra received initiation into Charitradharma and according to his Gurudev's command, he carried out his first Chaturmas in the house of a dancer by name Kosha who was his former mistress. He did so because he wanted to show the path of dharma to that dancer also and he showed her the path of dharma. Kosha became a shravika. He made her take the twelve vows and then when he approached his Gurudev the latter received him with a sweet voice and said, “You have done something impossible. Something that is absolutely impossible. You remained a Sadhu (detached), you also bestowed dharma upon Kosha. Sthulabhadra! you are really blessed”.
THE JEALOUSY OF A SADHU WHO RESIDED AT THE CAVE OF A LION
When the Gurudev was praising Sthulabhadra another disciple was sitting there. He too had been spending the rainy season at various places. He had been carrying out excellent
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