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ASCETICS AND HERMITS that villageless desert but not finding any giver of water, they summoned one another a second time.
17. Summoning each other they said, “ Here, O beloved of the Gods, there is no water-giver. Now it is not allowed to us to accept or partake of a thing unoffered. Let us not, therefore, accept or partake of auything unoffered even in this time of emergency lest the result of our penance be destroyed. It is hetter for us, therefore, O beloved of the Gods to lay aside our staves, bowls, roasaries of Rudraksha, earthen vessels, seats, six-mouthed vessels, axes, towels, rings, umbrellas, shoes, wooden slippers and mineral coloured robes, and bathing in the great river Gangá, and spreading beds of sand to wait without eagerness for death in the Páovagamaņa posture, thus wasting ourselves in starvation by renouncing food and drink. With these words they promised one another to do so, and leaving aside their staves etc., bathed in the great river Gangá and spread beds of sand.
18 Ascending the beds of sand, turning their faces to the east, sitting in a squatting posture', and bringing the palms of the hands to their forehead said, “ Homage be to the Arhats, (down to) who have attained salvation, homage to the venerable Lord Mahavira (down to, who desired to attain salvation homage to Ambada, the Ascetic, our religious teacher
1. Smm paliyamka, glossed as padmasana, which in Yogic texts is a posture in which the devotee squats on the ground with legs folded, the right leg being on the left thigh, and vice versa, while the eyes are fixed on the top of the nose. The position of the arms varies. Barnett, p. 59.
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