________________
271
given to him ? Within one year he became a great scholor of Grammar, Logic, Literature etc.
One day, Quru-Mahārāja sent the litile-sage to bring canjee ( gruel). He brought it, and also gave him a most poetic and picturesque description of the woman who gave it. Afterwards Guru-Mahārāja appointed him on his own seat, and giving him the name of Pädalipta, taught him Ākāśa-Q.. mini-Vidyă ( The science of flying in the air ).
Then, he was sent to Mathură to widen the Jina -şăsana. Prom there, he went to Pâtaliputra where ruled king Muranda. About the same time some body offered a small ball covered over tightly with a net so that the inner part was not at all visible. Just to test the new comer, the king sent it to Päda. lipta Sūri who could, atonce, see that the string of the net was covered with wax, So he dipped the ball into hot water, Found out the kilot of the net-string and untred it, and sent it back to the king. The king was greatly pleased. To have a further test, the king again sent him a wooden stick polished from both the ends, so that the the top-end and the bottom one could not be marked out. Guru-Mahārāja placed it into water, as the bottom-part was heavier than the topone, it went down. He marked both the ends and send it to the king, who again sent him a small box whose lid was not visible. That riddle was also easily solved by Guru-Mahārāja who placed it into boiling water and found it out, opened it, and sent it back to the king.
Now came the turn of Guru- Mahārāja who, with a view to test the royal ministers sent them a round gourd-bowl which was tightly covered over with a net. Now could untie it. At last Guruji did it.
Once, the king got a strong headache which was atonce cured by the Guruji with his magical powers. So, the king was more attracted. Then after travelling in some cities, they came to Omkārapura.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org