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[ Prince Evanta accepts consecration
and thither ? Tell me what you want." Gautama said, “ I am a Nirgrantha Hermit, and am wadering in search of food and water that are pure and not specially meanit for us ". At this, the prince took the finger of Gautama Swami into his hand and said, “If you are a Nirgrantha hermit come to my palace; I will give you food and water of your liking”. Then both of them, came to the king's palave. When the Queen saw such an honourable guest coming with her son, she was very much pleased. She began to praise her own good luck as well as that of her husband together with the intelligence of the little prince. She offered food and water to Gautama Svami according to his rules, but when he was about to depart, the little prince asked him his whereabouts. Gautama replied that he was staying with his Guru, Lord Mahavira, outside the city. The prince then said, "Well, I want to see the feet of the Lord; May I go with you ?"
Gautama said, “Yes” and took him to the Lord. The prince bowed before the Lord very respectfully and sat down before him. The Lord then imparted instruction to him which influenced his mind so much that he felt a craving in his heart for renunciation. He therefore prayed to the Lord to initiate him into his order; but, as he had not taken the necessary permission of his parents and other familymembers, the Lord did not think it proper to consecrate him. Therefore the prince came to his parents and expressed his desire for consecration before them. The parents, thinking that he was a mere boy and could not even imagine what consecration was and what sufferings it entailed, wanted to evade his request. But the boy persisted and said, “Dear father and mother, Don't think that I am joking. I have
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