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The curt remarks hurt the new monk severely. He came back to the camp and narrated his experience to his spiritual master, Sudharma. To help the monk out of this difficult situation, it was decided that the whole party of monks would depart immediately on the following day. But the departure was cancelled at the pressing request of Abhayakumara.
Coming back to the city of Rājagsha, Abhayakumāra made three piles of gold coins, each having one crore pieces. Then the people of the city were invited to try their luck with these. All people were attracted at the prospect of a windfall gain. After the people had assembled, Abhayakumara made the following announcement:
"These three piles, each having one crore gold coins, will go to one who can give up for good his wife, water and fire".
This was too difficult a string and none dared to come forward. Thereon Abhayakumāra said,
"You see how very noble is Monk Drumaka who has renounced for good woman, water and fire".
In this manner, Abhayakumāra put an end to the popular discussion about the monk (179).
The Jaina tradition has many stories about the great devotion of Abhayakumara towards religion. Speaking about him, Mahavira himself has called him intensely pious (180). Sulasakumāra, son of the butcher Kālasaurika, became a follower of the nir grantha religion under his influence(181).Ardrakakumara also became a monk under the inspiration given to him by Abhayakumāra (182).
About the initiation of Abhaya kumāra, it has been said that once when Bhagavān Mahāvira came to Rājagrha, Abhayakumara called on him at the garden to pay him his homage and obeisance. When the sermon was over, Abhayakumāra made the following submission:
"Bhante! Who will be the last king to attain liberation"? (183)..
