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relation with Mahavira and the great esteem in which he held him. The account is as follows:
In that period, at that time, there was a city named Rajagṛha. There was a garden named Gunasila outside the city. Sreņika was the ruling monarch. One day, seated on his cushion in his spiritual chamber, he sent for his officers, and after they had come, he said to them,
"Of beloved of the gods! You go outside the city of Rajagṛha to all rest houses, gardens, workshops, hill temples, public halls, hill water stores, shops, restaurants, quarries, wood shops, coir shops, etc., and tell their owners, 'Oh beloved of the gods ! King Srenika Bimbisāra so orders, when Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira comes to this city, you give him shelter, cushion, bed, etc., and convey the news of his arrival to the king'.
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The officers carried out the orders of the king.
In that period, at that time, Sramaya Bhagavān Mahavira came to Rajagṛha. People met in a congregation. The above-mentioned owners of rest houses, etc., met together to hold discussion, and then they came to Srenika in a group and said, "Your Majesty! Bhagavan Mahavira, the founder of religion, Tirthankara, all-knowing and all-seeing, whom you were keen to see, the mention of whose name and face pleases you, is at the Gunasila caitya".
On hearing this news, King Sŕeņika was delighted and happy. Coming down from his throne, he moved seven or eight steps forward, and from there, he paid his homage and obeisance for Bhagavan Mahavira. Then he profusely rewarded those people who had brought the good news, sent for his army commanders and keepers of royal vehicles and ordered them to make ready the fourfold army and to decorate all the chariots for the spiritual mission to pay a visit to Bhagavan Mahavira.
Having done all this, he came to Queen Celana and said, "Oh beloved of the gods! Highly fruitful is the visit
