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CHAPTER III THE INITIATION AND OMNISCIENCE OF AJITA
Childhood of Ajita and Sagara (1-21) Lord Ajita was taken care of by five nurses 111 appointed by Śakra; Sagara, on the other hand, was taken care of by five appointed by the King. Ajita Svāmin sucked the nectar inserted in the thumb of his lotus-hand by the gods. For the Arhats do not nurse. Sagara, on the contrary, sucked the nurse's irreproachable breast at the proper time, like a forest-tree the water of a canal. The royal boys grew day by day, like two branches of a tree, like the two tusks of an elephant. In turn, or at the same time, they climbed on the King's lap, like lion-cubs a mountain-slope. Their fathers smiled at their very charming smiles, but were astonished at their strong walking. Even when held by the nurses, they did not stay on their laps. Certainly the young of a lion do not stay in a cage.
Running about rapidly as they liked, they tired out their nurses running after them. Strength is a quality of the noble. The royal boys, surpassing the Vāyukumārakas 112 in speed, caught birds, pleasure-parrots, peacocks, etc. By various kinds of flattery, the nurses halted the boys in their course as they wandered at pleasure like bhadra-elephants.113 Divine little bells, tinkling, tinkling, on the boys, looked like bees on lotuses. Necklaces of gold and jewels fastened on their necks, tinkling on the breast, looked like flashes of lightning in the sky. As they played at will, dangling golden earrings gave the
111 1. I.e., one who nurses, one who gives the bath, one who adorns, one who holds, and one who plays with him. PE, sub pancadhāi.
112 9. A division of Vyantaras. See below, this chapter. 118 10. See I, n. 128, and Edgerton, pp. II-16, 48-50.
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