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my body without, and bear all the torture that befalls me with equanimity and fortitude.”.
People flocked to this spot; they even worshipped the cobra as a deity, with offerings of milk and ghee. Ants swarmed over his body, pricking him all over, but the cobra bore this agony without writhing, . reminding himself how he had bitten many a man and beast with his deadly fangs. Now it was his turn to bear these pangs and he was courageously resigned to it. And so, this much dreaded snake at last died and because of his penitence and penance, he was absolved of his sins and he entered the eighth heaven.
After long years, once again people frequented this once-deserted path. Citizens and cowherds stopped at the ant-hill and exclaimed, “Blessed is Bhagwan Mahavira ! Blessed is the King of Snakes! Blessed is nonviolence that triumphs over violence !"
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