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CHAPTER VIUI
INITIATION OF RŞABHADATTA AND DEVĀNANDĀ, OPPOSITION AND DEATH OF JAMĀLI AND GOŚĀLA,
ILLNESS OF MAHAVIRA
Initiation of Rşabhadatta and Devānandā (1-27)
The Supreme Lord, wandering in villages, mines, cities, et cetera to give help to souls capable of emancipation went to Brāhmaṇakuņdagrāma. The chief-gods made a three-walled samavasaraṇa in a garden named Bahuśāla outside the town. The Lord sat on the eastern lion-throne in it, facing the east. Gautama and others, the gods and others remained each in the proper place.
When they had heard that the Omniscient had come, many people of the city came. The husband and wife, Devānandā and Rşabhadatta, came. The layman, Rşabhadatta, sat down in the proper place, after circumambulating the Teacher of the World three times and bowing to him. Devānandā bowed to the Lord after Rşabhadatta. Knowing the way (to her own seat), she stood, listening attentively, her face shining with joy. Then, when Devānandā looked at the Supreme Lord, milk flowed from her breasts and the hair on her body was erect from delight.
When Gautama Svāmin had seen her in this condition, feeling doubt and astonishment, making the añjali, he asked the Master: “Why does Devānandā, with unwinking eyes like a goddess, have a flow of milk at the sight of you like a son, Lord?” Then the Blessed Vira explained in a voice deep as thunder: “Sir, dear to the gods, I am Devānandā's son. When I fell from heaven, I dwelt in her womb eightytwo days. Therefore she, even though not knowing the full truth, is devoted to me."
Devānandā and Rşabbadatta rejoiced on hearing that;
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