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INTRODUCTION.
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ing confession, by some one appointed for the purpose, while all the rest of the Sages sat in the attitude of devout listeners. This was the ancient practice, but it has been superseded by a somewhat different ritual since the nine hundred and cightieth year of the era of Mahavírat. At that time, at Anandapura, now called Bádnagar, lived King Dhruvasenat. He had a dearly beloved son named Sengaja, who by divine decree died that year at the commencement of the Paryushana. The king was overwhelmed with grief, and no more came to the place wliere the Sages lived to pay his respects; and, according to the saying, “As is the king so are the subjects}," the bankers and merchants, and others, failed in their attendance, and occasioned great detriment to religion. Perceiving this, the Religious Director went to the King Dhruvasena, and said, "O king, through your indulgence in grief the whole city and all the country around is overwhelmed with sorrow. Remember, however, O king, that life is fleeting, and the world insipid. It is not proper for a king like you, instructed in the Jain religion, to indulge any
* The original is THT a technical word among the Juins.
+ B. C. 153 or 411. See Preface. # See Preface. This city is probably the same as Balebhi. इयथा राजा तथा प्रजा:
