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KALPA SÚTRA.
CHAPTER V.
THE BIRTH OF MAHÁVÍRA.
SOME time after this the mother of the adorable ascetic Mahávíra was greatly distressed, at finding that since the time of his conception he had never moved, but continued perfectly still, gathering together all his members. “This babe,” said she, “must be dead or torpid, or dissolving, that it continues thus motionless ;” and cherishing such reflections, she sat down with her cheek leaning on her hand, looking to the ground, and utterly disconsolate. On learning the state of the Queen, a stop was put to singing, playing on the tabour, violin, and tambourine, and to dancing, in the palace of Siddhartha, and all the courtiers went about idle with downcast countenances. Thereon the adorable ascetic Mahávíra having, by an act of intelligence, brought before him what was passing in his mother's mind, moved a little to one side, when Trišalá again resumed her wonted cheerfulness, and all gloom was dissipated. On account of this incident Mahávíra resolved, that in this