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[152]
[Upasakadasangasutra]
Due to the respect shown by Goshalak, he politely requested, "Please stay in my workshop, take the necessary items." Goshalak only wanted this. He readily agreed and went there. During his stay there, he had many opportunities to engage in philosophical discussions with Sakdalputra. He tried very hard to change Sakdalputra, but he was completely unsuccessful. Sakdalputra had already attained the true principles with great wisdom and understanding, how could he be swayed? Disheartened, Goshalak left from there. Sakdalputra continued to engage in religious devotion along with fulfilling his worldly responsibilities as before.
Thus, fourteen years passed. The fifteenth year was half over. One night, in the middle of the night, Sakdalputra was engaged in his religious worship. A false deity came to him to make him break his vow, threatening to kill his sons if he did not give up his vow. Sakdalputra remained steadfast, then he killed his three sons one after the other in front of him, cutting each into nine pieces of flesh, boiled them in a cauldron filled with boiling water, and splattered their flesh and blood on his body. But Sakdalputra endured it all with self-strength and patience, his faith did not waver.
Still, the deity was not discouraged. He thought that Agni Mitra was of great importance in Sakdalputra's life, she was not only a devoted wife, but also a companion in happiness and sorrow, and most importantly, she was the sole helper of his religious life. Thinking this, he threatened to kill Sakdalputra's wife Agni Mitra in front of him and inflict the same fate on her. Sakdalputra, who remained unmoved even after seeing the murder of his three sons before his own eyes, was disturbed by this threat. Anger arose in him and he thought, I must catch this wicked one. He immediately got up to catch him, but who can catch whom in a divine conspiracy? The deity disappeared. The pillar in front of Sakdalputra's hands came. Seeing all these unnatural events, Sakdalputra was frightened and made a loud noise. When Agni Mitra heard this, she immediately came there, listened to her husband's entire story and said, "You have lost in the final test. That false-sighted deity has finally succeeded in breaking your vow. Do penance for this mistake." Sakdalputra did the same.
Sakdalputra's final life was also very prosperous. He attained samadhi-death with a month-long final sanlekhana and fasting. After giving up his body, he became a four-pal-upamasthitika deva in the Arunabhoot Vimana.