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16
KALPA SÚTRA.
more in grief. We are at present going on with the religious Institute called the Kalpa Sútra, which produces much profit to the hearers by breaking the bonds of action". If your majesty will come to the place of the religious meeting, it is in the course of being read.” The king consented, and the whole was read before him and his followers at nine sittingst, while at the same time they brought presents to the Sages. Ever after this the custom prevailed of reading the Kalpa Sútra before the people generally; and therefore, according to former practice, I read it to you. It is an Institute venerated by Sura (gods), Seura (demons), by men and women ; and whosoever three times listens to it, performing also the religious duties that are suitable to the occasion, obtains the highest bliss. The meanings of the Kalpa Sútra are infinite, as numerous as the grains of sand on the brink of all the rivers on the earth, or the drops of water in the sea. How then can one of limited intelligence, like me, explain them? Nevertheless, incapable as I am, I shall make at
* कर्मक्षयकारक
+ Five days were occupied morning and erening in reading the original and hearing its exposition. Formerly the first day seems to have been a broken day, an evening lesson only being read. Now the time is filled up by reading at the last sitting all the original a second time, without comment.
