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ARDHA-MAGADHI READER
five Great Vows, to ask forgiveness of the Niggantha Ascetics like Goyama etc. and of the nuns, and with Elders of the right sort like Kada etc. to climb slowly up Mount Vipula, and myself cleaning a dais of earthen blocks dark like a mass of clouds, to wait there without eagerness for death, by wasting away in starvation, renouncing food and drink.
118
Thus he resolved, and on the morrow, when the night brightened into dawn, he came towards the Ascetic Lord Mahávíra, thrice walked round him from right to right (down to) stood waiting upon him.
68. Then the Ascetic Lord Mahávíra said to Friar Meha, "Truly when you, Meha, at night, in the first part of its latter half (down to) resolved to wait without eagerness for death......renouncing food and drink'. Is it truly a fact, Meha"?
"Yes sir it is."
69. Then Friar Meha, being given leave by the Ascetic, Lord Mahávíra, took upon himself the five Great Vows (down to) waited without eagerness for death...renouncing food and drink.
70. Then the reverened Elders rendered service to Friar Meha without fatigue. Then Friar Meha, having completed the period of friarship for twelve full years, wasted himself away by a month's starvation, withheld from himself sixty meals, made, confession and retraction, removed his doubts, fell into a trance, and in due course came to his death.
1. As in the preceding sestion.
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