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Immersed in the boundless ocean of pleasures, Shalibhadra, gazing at the splendor of renunciation, entered the path of Yoga Shastra. The palace was adorned with pillars of gold and a torana of Indranil gems. Its entrance was resplendent with a row of pearl swastikas. Its courtyard was intricately paved with the finest jewels. A canopy of divine fabrics was draped there. The entire palace was fragrant with the incense of aromatic substances. The palace seemed like another celestial abode on earth.
Bhadhra, taking the king to his palace on the fourth floor, seated him on the throne, and then proceeded to Shalibhadra's palace on the seventh floor. She said to him, "Son! Shrenik has come to your place. Come down for a while to see him." Shalibhadra replied, "Mother! You know everything and buy whatever you like. What will I do by going there? If you like something, buy it, whatever the price, and have it stored."
The mother, moved by affection, said, "Son! This is not something to be bought. This is the king of Rajgriha, who is the lord of you and me, everyone. He has come to meet you, so come."
Hearing the word "lord" from his mother's mouth, an inner turmoil arose in Shalibhadra's emotional heart. "Is there a lord over my head too? As long as I remain enslaved to worldly objects, palaces, wives, and other material possessions, there will surely be a lord over my head. Curse me! Will I remain a slave to all these pleasures? How long will I keep a lord over my head? Am I not the master of the infinite power that lies within me, or can I not become one? My father, too, after being initiated into the feet of Lord Mahavira, awakened his infinite powers. I too, will soon renounce these terrible pleasures, like the fangs of a serpent, and become initiated into the feet of Lord Mahavira, becoming my own master, awakening the infinite power that sleeps within me."
Thus, contemplating with emotion, Shalibhadra, under his mother's insistence, came to Shrenik with all his wives. He bowed to the king. Shrenik, upon seeing him, embraced Shalibhadra like a son, affectionately smelled his head, and seated him on his lap, stroking his head lovingly.
Sitting in the king's lap, Shalibhadra felt the anxiety of a prisoner in a dungeon. His body began to sweat from the king's touch, and tears streamed from his eyes. Seeing this, Bhadhra said to the king, "Dev! Leave him now. Because, though a human, he is extremely delicate. He is so fragile that he cannot bear even the slightest rough touch, nor even the scent of a human garland."
"His father, who has gone to the celestial realm, sends divine garments, ornaments, and perfumes from there for him and his wives every day."
Hearing this, the king released Shalibhadra. He escaped from there and went straight to his palace on the seventh floor. Bhadhra requested Shrenik to have dinner at her place. Impressed by Bhadhra's hospitality and humility, the king accepted her request. Bhadhra ordered her servants and maids to prepare all kinds of the finest food immediately. What work of the wealthy is not accomplished by wealth?
She ordered skilled servants to give him a massage with fragrant, fine oil mixed with scented powder, and then bathe him. While bathing, the king's ring fell into the water-playing vessel from his finger. The king began to search for it here and there. Seeing this situation, Bhadhra immediately ordered the maid to empty the water from that vessel into another. As the vessel emptied, the king's black, jet-black ring appeared along with other ornaments. Seeing this, the king was even more surprised.
Astonished, the king asked the maid, "What is all this?" The maid replied respectfully, "Dev! Shalibhadra and his wives bathe and wear new ornaments every day, and they put the old ornaments in this."
The king, overwhelmed with wonder, thought, "Shalibhadra is truly blessed. I am also blessed that there is such a fortunate person in my kingdom."
Thereafter, the king, along with his family, had dinner there. Afterwards, Bhadhra, with great respect, presented the king with wonderful, shining garments, ornaments, etc., and bid him farewell. King Shrenik, deeply impressed, returned to his palace.
1. The mention of the wife accompanying him is not found in other narratives.