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ARDHA-MAGADHE READER
Then King Seņiya said to the goodly young waiting.men, “Go, beloved of the gods, carry Prince Meha's litter to be lifted by a thousand men, They carried the litter.
47. Then when Prince Meha rode upon the litter, there went before him firstly, in due order, these eight symbols of fortune-to wit, a svastika', a srívatsal, a nandyávarta', a vardhamánakai, a state seat, a pitcher, a fish, and a mirror,
Then many that had desire of wealth, praising him without beasing with agreeable and pleasant words, said “Victory, victory to you. O blessed one! Victory, victory to you, O happy one."
48. Then Prince Meha's parents, leading for. ward Prince Meha, came to where the Ascetic, Lord Mabávíra was, thrice walked round him from right to right, greeted and bowed to him, and said, “This, O beloved of the gods, is our only son, beloved, lovely, and dear. Just as the blue lotus, the day-lotus, or the night-lotus, born in the mud, grown amidst waters, is stained not with defilement of mud, or with defilement of water, so Prince Meha born in pleasures, grown amidst enjoyments, is stained not with defilement of pleasures, or with defilement of enjoyments. Beloved of the gods, he is stricken with terror of life's wanderings ; fearful of ase, birth and death ; and is fain in your presence to share his head and to enter into the Monastic Order from the domestic one. So we bestow on you, beloved of the gods,
1. Kinds of geometrical figures considered auspicious.
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