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the grains of gold, thinking that they were barley-corns. The goldsmith came out of the house and looked about for the grains, and could not find them. Then he said to himself: This hermit here has taken the grains.' Then he asked the hermit: Hermit, did you take the grains?' The hermit, in order to save the life of a living being, did not say anything. Then the goldsmith said: 'If you took the grains, give them up; or if anyone else has taken them, say who he is.' The hermit adopted the statuesque posture and remained silent. Then the goldsmith, wild with anger, placed melted lead round the head of the hermit. The hermit endured it all, but did not say that it was the heron that swallowed the grains. Then the goldsmith knocked out his two eyes with a blow from a wedge.* That Metárya, remaining engaged in pure meditation, gained absolute knowledge, free from impediments, and after gaining it attained salvation. Thereupon a servant of that goldsmith let fall suddenly a bundle of faggots; that frightened the heron, and made him bring up the grains. When the goldsmith saw that, he and all his family took a vow. Here ends the story of Metárya, having reference to compassion for living creatures.
Many other great-hearted men also distinguished for religion, Ratnaçikha and others, engaged in pure devotion, have become partakers of good fortune and altogether prosperous.t
In this Jaina religion, many souls, such as Crídarçana the merchant, and others, by the might of the five principal beings, have become partakers of good fortune. Among these the advantage which Prince Ratnaçikha obtained by the formula of adoration is specially spoken of. It was as follows:
Here follows the story of Ratnaçikha, having reference to the formula of adoration.
*Two of the MSS. read pháchara. The one which I call 'B' reads páchara, which appears to be a Marathi word for a wedge.
†This sentence is in Prákrit.
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