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The circuitous wanderings through countless janmas 223
named Dhan. In the same manner Raman also having wandered through the wilderness of birth and death was born as a human being. He too was born in the family of the merchant Dhan and was named Bhushan. In one of their earlier lives, they were brothers; in one they were friends and in this janma they were father and son.
The merchant, Dhan possessed enormous wealth; and Bhushan was his only son. In consequence, he was brought up with great love and affection. The father had inordinate affection for his son and the son also had extraordinary love and regard for his father. The merchant Dhan selected thirty two damsels of outstanding beauty, virtues and purity for his son. They were incomparable in beauty of form and in beauty of character. Each seemed to excel the others in nature and features. Bhushan, as desired by his father married the thirty two damsels.
One night, Bhushan. after having spent a long time in amorous sports with his wives, went to sleep. It was the last phase of the night. There was silence everywhere. The whole city was enveloped in darkness but for the gleaming light of the street lights. There was no noise except, that of the heavy footsteps of the guards going up and down the streets slowly. Suddenly, Bhushan's sleep was distrubed. At a place, situated at a great distance from the city a great muni by name Shridhar had attained Kevaljnan. On account of that reason, a large number of heavenly beings had come down to earth to celebrate the event of the attainment of Kevaljnan by the muni. Bhushan's sleep was disturbed by the noise of their celebrations and jubiliations. At once, he woke up his wives and told them to get ready for a travel. Then he and his wives set off to participate in the magnificent celebrations. While he was thus proceeding to meet the great muni, with his heart and mind brimming with lofty contemplations, on the way, he was bitten by a terrible cobra. Bitten by the cobra Bhushan at once collapsed to the ground and died. His wives shocked by the disaster began to lament loudly. The lamentations of the women and their attendants were heart-rending. Two of the attendants ran home and brought the merchant Dhan to that place. The merchant
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