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Fortunately, śrèņika Kumâra was able to remain with his father king Prasènajit during his death-bed. Srèņika Kumara was, at once, installed as the King of Magadha on his father's throne.
Abhaya Kumāra.
On hearing some sarcastic remarks from his companions of boyhood, about the absence of his father, Abhaya Kumāra became grieved at heart, and having gone to his inother, he directly asked her the true account of his father. Nandā told him everything she knew about her husband, how he came to live in the family, and how he was married with her. She, at the same time, told Abhaya Kumāra that no one knew who he was and whence he came to Bénâ taţa Nagara. One day, some persons came here in search for him on camel-backs, and he went with them. While going away from here, he gave this much mark of recognition to me. So saying, she at unce gave the piece of paper written by him to Abhaya Kumāra. The intelligent Abhaya Kumara at once knew the meaning of the writing on the piece of paper to be "I am the king of Rajagraha". So, keeping the piece of paper carefully with him, Abhaya Kumâra came to Rājagraha along with his mother.
King Sréņika, who had been installed as the King of Magadha by his father King Prasénajit during his death-bed, now wanted a clever person of superior intellect to fill up a vacant post of a minister in his council of 500 Ministers. As a test, he threw one of his rings into a deep dry well, and declared that he, who remaining on the bank of well, will bring out the ring from the well, will be made the president of the Council of Ministers. Many persons went to the well, and returned in despair, thinking the work to be impracticable.
Abhaya Kumára left his mother in a secure place outside the town, and wandering in the town, he happened to come to the well. On hearing the proclamation of the King, from the
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