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that they met daily, discussed their household and business matters with each other and did everything with each other's counsel. They never hurt each other's feelings and never did anything that was against the other's wishes. Theirs was a perfect friendship where each trusted the other fully and co-operated wholeheartedly.
In Campā, there also lived an extremely beautiful young courtesan called Devadattā who was endowed with all attractive feminine charms. She was the apple of every one's eyes and even the highly placed government officials and royal personages vied with each other for a favourable glance from her.
Once, the two merchants' sons decided to go to the sylvan surroundings of the Subhūmibhāga garden and enjoy themselves in the company of charming Devadattā. Accordingly, they arranged for suitable vehicles, a large entourage of servants and followers and equipped themselves with ample foods and drinks and went to the courtesan's palace and invited her to accompany them to the garden for a tour of its natural abundance. Such was the reputation of the two merchants' sons that Devadattā accepted their invitation readily and agreed to accompany them to the garden. The three of them mounted the excellent chariot and enjoying the ride they reached the Subhūmibhāga garden. Bathing in the clean spring of the garden they helped themselves to the best food that was served to them by the fawning servants. They enjoyed themselves with various games and sports and when they refreshed themselves with some rest they started to walk down the lawns and shrubberies of the garden.
Walking down the lanes, and alley-ways, they chanced to come to the same shrubbery where the peahen had laid her eggs. Seeing them coming towards her thicket the peahen took fright quacked loudly and flew away to perch on the branch of a nearby tree. The two merchants' sons were surprised at this commotion and decided to investigate the reason behind it. They entered the Tulasi thicket and were happy to see the peahen's two fine eggs. 314 : JAINISM: THE CREED FOR ALL TIMES
