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100
Āturapratyākhyānaprakirṇakam
Even though he was told this, the greedy soul, that Sūri, was eager to take his necklace. As long as he was attached to taking it, the cub again spoke. ||32||
“O Bhagavan, one should act appropriately after hearing a story. Sūri said, “Tell me, then.” The cub said, “Listen.” ||33||
“Once upon a time, there was a potter in a village, and he was digging a pit. He was attacked by the collapsing edge of the pit, and he said, “I give alms and offerings to please the gods, and I support my relatives. But the earth is attacking me. I have found refuge from fear!” ||34-35||
“Just as a potter, who is seeking the main happiness of livelihood, depends on the earth, so too was this potter quickly harmed by it! ||36||
“O Bhagavan, I am also afraid, and I have taken refuge in you. You will save me from this fear. I have found refuge from fear!” ||37||
“You are very clever, little one!” said the Guru. He took the ornaments and took the child. ||38||
He threw the remaining ornaments into his own alms bowl. Even though he was clever, he was overcome by his vow, and he became completely devoid of greed. ||39||
Then, going forward, the Guru crossed a forest. He saw a second cub, named Apkāya, and he spoke to him as before. ||40||
He was about to take the ornaments from this one too, but the cub, having declared his own name, told a story. ||41||
“There was once a storyteller named Pāṭala, who was skilled in telling beautiful stories. He was full of witty sayings. ||42||
“Once, he was crossing the Ganges, which was flowing with a full current. He saw the people standing on the bank, and he said to them in amazement, ||43||
“‘The Ganges carries Pāṭala, who is full of stories. It is good that you are being carried. Tell me something witty.’ ||44||
“The people, who were eager to hear, said, ‘Pāṭala, tell us a verse that is not obscene.’ Pāṭala said, ||45||
“‘By which seeds grow, by which farmers live, in the midst of that, I have found refuge from fear!’ ||46||
“Having revealed his feelings and told the story, the cub stood there. Sūri, abandoning compassion, took the ornaments from him too. ||47||
Then, going further, he saw a third cub, named Tejaska. Sūri was about to take his ornaments. ||48||
Then, that cub, as before, revealed his own name and began to tell a story, displaying his eloquence. ||49||
“Once upon a time, there was an ascetic in an ashram who worshipped fire every day. He never burned anything else in his fire. ||50||
“‘I satisfy him with honey and ghee day and night. I have been burned by that fire. I have found refuge from fear!’ ||51||
“‘Once, someone went into the forest and lit a fire at night because he was afraid of a tiger. He was careless and was burned by it. He said, ||52||
“‘I was afraid of a tiger, and I took refuge in the fire. I was burned by it. I have found refuge from fear!’ ||53||
“Having told the story and revealed its meaning, the cub stood there. Then,