________________
403
mark the last day of the festivity, the Sreşthi invited many nirgy antha monks to his house to the utter exclusion of the Buddhist monks. The. Sresthi sent a message for Visakhā,
"The Arhats have come to our house. So come and bow before them". "
Višākhã was an inspired Arya s'rāvikā. When she heard that the whats had come, she became very happy. She took no time to get ready and appear before the monks to pay her obeisance. But when she saw so many nude monks at a time, she felt a severe reaction from within her, and the following words spontaneously dropped from her lips,
"Do arhats look like these? Why did my father-inlaw ask me to come in the presence of these shameless sr amaņas? What a shame"!
Visakha's behaviour gave affront to the nude monks. They lodged a strong protest against her with Sresthi Mrgara. Said they,
"Couldn't you get a better bride for your son? Why did you bring to your home a worthless follower of Sramaņa Gautama ? Get rid of her as early as you can".
Sreşthi Mrgāra was between the horns of a dilemma. Thought he,
'Visākhā comes of a good family. She cannot be driven out like this at the bidding of the monks. But if I do not do something in the matter, the rage of the monks will not be pacified'.
He begged the monks to forgive him and saw them off. After the monks were gone, he sat down to eat. He started eating Sweet khir with a golden spoon from a golden saucér. The khir was boiled in milk to which no water was added. Just then an elderly monk who was out on a begging mission arrived at the Sresthi's door. Visakha saw him but did not consider it fit to announce him to her father-in-law. So
