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the Kșatriya Chief of Tosali. The chief asked him many questions and wanted to know who he was, but Mahāvira spoke nothing. His silence evoked greater suspicion. The chief consulted his council of advisers, and they came to the decision that this was not a real monk. So they ordered that he should be hanged. The executioners at once became active to give effect to the order. They brought him to the scaffold and placed the nook round his neck. But the nook dissipated and dropped to the ground. They tried this seven times, and every time, they had the same experience. This was a great surprise for the Ksatriya Chief and his coun: sellors. They had now no doubt that this must be a very exceptional man. At once, the king expressed regret and released him(6).
Mahavira now reached Siddharthapura.. Because of · the trap already laid by Sangama, even here, he was caught as a thief, but was released when his identity was revealed by a horse-dealer named Kausika. Starting from there, he reached Vajragrama. On that day, people were celebrating 'some festival. So khira had been cooked in every home. Mahāvira got up to beg his food. Sangama did not lag b hind. Before Mahavira reached a home, Sangama was already there, and the prior presence of a monk at the donor's home made the food unacceptable for him. Mahā - vira real is ed at once that this was the trick by the same god. So he left the village and went elsewhere (7).
For full six months, Sangama continued to pursue Mahavira harming and harrassing him in every manner. In this, he had degraded himself to the nadir of indecency and me anness. But still Mahavira did not budge from his way. Sangama was now ashamed in his mind (for his mis be haviour towards a great monk). He realised beyond all doubts that despite his vilest efforts, Mahavira had continued to add to his mental stature and attained a colossal spiritual height. He had never allowed himself to be overpowered by his meanness. Being thus defeated, he appeared before Mahavira, and revealing the identity, he submitted,
"The praise given by the Indra about you is true to the last word. You are a man very firm in your resolve. I have fallen from my promise. No power, howsoever great, can force you off your path. In
