Way of Life Part 4

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 33

DISCOURSE 74
elated. The clouds of fear and worry disappeared. Dedashah offered a prayer to the Lord.
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AN ADORATION OF THE PARAMATMA
"I take refuge at the feet of Bhagwan Stambhan Parshwanath who brings about deliverance in this life and in the life after death; in this world and in the other world.
O Lord Parshwanath! your name, your stone-idol, the water used for your ablution and the flowers used for your worship.... all these things enable us to attain a fulfilment of our aspirations, having been consecrated by your name. All these things become efficacious by their contact with you. Your powers are boundless. What words shall I use to glorify you?
O Lord, it is only on account of the strength that you have bestowed upon me that I am unflinching in my determination not to reveal to the king the secret of the suvarnasiddhi which I possess. You are the only refuge to the jivas who are oppressed in the samsar. You bestow worldly enjoyments and the felicity of salvation on those who bow to you with heartfelt devotion. O Lord Stambhan Parshwanath! If I can escape from here without any loss of wealth; if I can escape from this horrible prison, I will approach your holy feet and I will worship you by decorating you with gold ornaments".
Shri Rathnamandan Gani has described this prayer of Ded Shravak in his grantha entitled Sukrithasagar. He describes certain very important and significant things. I will examine them briefly. Of course, we are deviating a little from the subject of our discussion namely: " यथोचित लोकयात्रा' (the proper way to carry on the pilgrimage of one's life); but it is necessary to discuss some topic that crops up incidentally. These factors are of very great utility in the life of every man.
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Difficulties and sorrows appear in the life of every man. The man who does not possess faith, wisdom and devotion and dedication will certainly get annihilated under the mountain of difficulties and sorrows. The poisonous fangs of sorrows sting