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THE WAY OF LIFE यदि सत्संगनिरतो भविष्यसि भविष्यसि ।
अथासजनगोष्ठीषु पतिष्यसि पतिष्यसि ॥ “You will attain progress if you associate with noble people ! You will be ruined if you associate with ignoble people !".",
The association with noble men and intimacy with them are of great value and efficacy. In history, we get many examples of people who attained progress and elevation on account of their association with noble people. Noble men lift people out of the deep pit of ruin into which they might have fallen.
On account of his association and intimacy with Acharya Shri Hemachandrasooriji, King Kumarpal attained nobility and elevation in his life; and he also disseminated among his people such lofty doctrines as non-violence. He removed the sorrows and hardships of his people. But after the death of Kumarpal, King Ajayapal who acceeded to his throne did not maintain contacts with noble people. He associated with wicked people and with sycophants; and the consequence was that he himself was assassinated; and he also caused the destruction of the magnificent temples of the Jin that had been built by Kumarpal. He caused great anguish and distress to his subjects..
RUIN CERTAIN IF YOU ASSOCIATE WITH WICKED PEOPLE
King Amaraja was saved from total ruin on account of the association with Shri Bappabhattisooriji. Amaraja had fallen into the snares of a dancing girl who belonged to an ignoble lineage. He had become infatuated with her. Bappabhatti came to know of it. The Acharyadev saved him tactfully from a disaster. I think you have read the life-histories of Amaraja and Bappabhattisooriji. If you have not read them you must make it a point to read them. If you read those stories, you will realize how beneficial and ennobling the contact with noble men is. The same historical grantha reveals to us how the company of wicked people causes ruin. A husband is ruined by his wife if she has evil ambitions and desires. A woman experiences total ruin if her husband is a wicked man. A King is ruined if
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