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The Brāhmin replied " Ah dear! what can I say about the amount of wealth I carped ! with a keen desire for amassing wealth, I roamed about Śri Parvata-the mountain on which the Goddess of Wealth), resides mines of diamonds, the Rohanācala (the Golden Mountain ), crossed a number of oceans, and sear. ched over a number of deep dens formidable with Tagi Rasakupikā (small pits full of iluid capadle of turning iron, copper and other base metals into gold ) and huge venomous snakes. I dug open numerous localities fit to be dug out and reduced to ashes ( with intense fear ) d variety of geogeur Suvarna-pāşāna ( stones capable of yielding gold-dust). I experi. mented on several divine medicaments with the object of accom. plishing gold, served under several kings and I knew mantras (incantations), alchemy, and a number of other degrading procceses. Besides, I did not spire any pains in the use of pobular swords, bows and arrows, lances, discs, and other weapons, Ab ! how immensely I exerted myself for the acquisition of wealth Still, however, Odear! I could uot get even a morsel of bread, For the present, I have returned here only with an eager desire of seeing you.”
Then, as if struck suddenly by Indra's thunder-bolt, with her face darkened as if robbed of everything, with her lower lip quivering with rage, and with her eyes red-shot with anger, his wife reproachingly said,-' o wicked man! O unfortunate being ! O brute! O despicable wretch! If it were so, why did you wauder about here and there for such a long time, catching the fruits of bitter cucumber 7, "O vile man ! did you not even hear while you were there, that Šramana Bhagavān Mabāvīra, the son of King - Siddhărtha poured constant showers of gold like the torents of rains coming from directions, for one year by giving every one his desired articles ! Do you not see people coming from distant lands, return home with heaps of gold and all their most-cherished desires fulfilled? The Brāhmin said" Dear ! owing to my living in a very distant country, I did not hear anything about it. What can I do? My Fate is adverse to me, and there-by, I suffered such a miserable condition for a
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