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264 dha, Kāshmir, Gauda and many other countries, but none dared compete him.
But vanity never wins; mere pride is no power. In Kaušāmbi Siddhaséna got a bold man who told him on his face, “ Why do you boast like this? If you really want to contest,-well logo and face that Lion amongst paņdits ! Debate with him ! It seems, uptil now you have really played with children. But now your strength will be measured. To conquer that man is really a hard out to crack. You are puffed up with vanity, because uptil now you have not met him.''
By such words, Siddhaséna felt insulted, and lost his temper. His vanity was wounded. He inquired as to "the lion amongst paņạits.” Then, taking an oath to defeat him, he started for Broach.
Just after arriving there, he inquired about Vriddhavadi; but was insorined that he had gone on a journey (vihâra). The news pleased him, for he thought, "Vriddhavâdi feared me, and that inust be the cause of his running away! But I am not such a fool to let hun escape so easily !” He actually ran after him and met him on his way. Vriddhayâdi began to offer him a few words of admonition. But could Siddnaséna keep calm ? He at once lost his temper and said, "I have not come here to hear all these preachings. I want to hold with you a debate. I am Siddhaséna,-the conquerer of great orators. Merely the utterance of niy name is enough to create fearsensation in the minds of my opponents. They run away as deers run away when they hearalion's roar! I would not let you go? Either confess your defeat or win me over, and make me your pupil.
The shrewd Vriddhavâdi could know that Siddhaséna is proud of his knowledge. From the lustre of his face, he also coniectured that he must be a versatile genius able to spread wide the Jina --- rule. So he addressed him calmly. Saying,
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