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were given a bath by white and yellow water pitchers, oblation was offered to the fire and the wedding ceremony was performed with great rejoicing.
After marriage both passed their time in enjoying worldly pleasures. After some time as the luck would have it, Pottilä lost her husband's love and her husband started hating her and did not even like to hear her name. Pottila was worried and greatly upset. She spent her time in giving charity to mendicants and ascetics while performing religious duties.
One day a nun, named Suvrata arrived in her house for bigging alms. Potțilā welcomed her and after giving her alms, talked to her about her husband's displeasure. She bowed to the nun submitting that as learned and experienced she was, she might be able to advise her in the matter. She continued that she would be obliged to her if the revered nun suggested some charm, incantation, powder, medicine or application so that she could regain her husband's love. On hearing this the nun closed her ears with both hands, saying that it was most sinful for her even to listen to such talks.
After some time Pottilä joined the nun's order. In the meantime, king Kanakaratha died and the prince Kanakadhvaja succeeded to the throne. For some time the minister Teyaliputra was in the good books of the king and was consulted in every important state affair. But later, some differences arose between them, as a result of which the minister got scared and said to himself that some day the king might put him to death. The minister came home but nobody showed him any respect. Thereupon he tried to end his life employing various means, but could not succeed. Now, as had been stipulated earlier, his wife Pottilä, who was reborn as a heavenly god, descended from her abode and preached him the teachings of Jina. On hearing those teachings Teyaliputra was enlightened. He joined the ascetic order and in course of time achieved liberation.
3. The Female Ascetic Subhadrā
In the city of Varanasi there lived a merchant named Bhadra with his wife Subhadra. As she had no issue she used to brood over and was constantly thinking of those mothers who were blessed with children.
Once a nun arrived in the town and happened to visit Subhadra's house. After entertaining the nun, Subhadra asked her if she was in a position to prescribe her some spell, magical incantation, medicine or herb so that she could give birth to a child. The nun preached her religious sermons instead, as a result of which Subhadra accepted the vows of a Jain laywoman. Later in order to join the ascetic order, she went to her husband and asked his permission. The husband tried to disuade her from her resolve by giving various arguments, but it was of no effect. Ultimately, the friends and relatives were invited for dinner, Subhadra was given bath, lustratory rites were performed and she was led to nun Suvrata to be initiated.
After Subhadra became a nun, she became fond of children. She fondled them, nursed them and dressed them nicely. Subhadra was reprimanded for her behaviour but it was in vain. Subhadra said to herself, "When she was a householder, she was free to do things and nobody interferred in her work, but now the nuns criticised her and disapproved her actions." With these ideas in her mind, she relinquished the order and returned to the household life.
In course of time she died and was reborn as Soma, the daughter of a Brahmaṇa. Within few
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