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ARDHA-MAGADAT READER 16, Then King Seniya said to Queen Dhárini, "Do not foster sữoh melancholy thoughts, O beloved of the gods. I shall so act that this very longing, strangel as it is shall be crowned with satisfaction.
17. Then King Seniya summoned the prince, named Abhaya and said, "Truly, my son, a longing for untimely clouds has come upon your step-mother, Queen Dháriņi. Not finding any means of fulfilling her longing: I am thinking over it, with all my hopes crushed."
18. Then that prince Abhaya said to King Sepiya, “Do not brood over it in this way, my father. I shall 80 act that the strange desire of my step-mother, Queen Dbáriņi will see its fruit."
19. Then the following thought occurred to prince Abhaya, “The fulfilment of my step-mother, Queen Dhárini's desire cannot be brought about by any human means, but only by divine ones. Now there is a god, resident of the Suhamma Kappa, who is my former companion, and who enjoys great wealth and happiness. It is meet for me, therefore, to live alone and unaccompanied seated on a grass-seat in my Posaha-rooms, taking on me the vow of Posaha and
1. Literally, untimely.
2. OWTH TH=wmterity fire Longing for untimely clouds' and hence strange.
3. Posa ha-sálá where Posaha is observed. Posaha is the sacred day of the Jains and is distinguished by the four absti. nences (upa vása) from food (áhára), bodily attentions (sárira Batkára), sexual intercourse (abrahma) and daily work (vyápára).
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