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At this juncture the chief nobles of King Naraváhana, who had come to fetch the prince, told his family and other particulars about him. Afterwards the parents of Lalitánga arrived. His father-in-law gave Prince Lalitánga his own kingdom, and, becoming a hermit, went to heaven. King Naraváhana brought his son to his own city, and persuaded him to forgive him his offence, saying: 'My dear boy, wealth is not diminished by almsgiving.' So the father gave his kingdom to Lalitánga, and took a vow, and after obserying a holy conversation went to heaven. Lalitánga ruled his realm as king. Here ends the story of Lalitánga.
Whoever being addicted to compassion towards living creatures
gives up injuring others, To that man even calamity will become a feast, as in the case of
Dámannaka. Here follows the story of Dámannaka, concerning compassion to living creatures. In this very land of Bharata is & city named Rájapura,
in which city the troops STORY OF DÁMANNAKA, WHO WAS FIRST
IST of peacocks dance, when BORN AS A FISHERMAN, AND THEN AS THE SON OF A MERCHANT. they hear the noise of
the drums beaten in the temple of the Jina. In that city lived a respectable youth of the name of Sunanda, who was a fisherman. But he was by nature much inclined to show compassion to all living creatures. He had a great friend, a lay disciple named Jinadása. One day he went with Jinadása to his spiritual teacher. After bowing before the teacher, they both sat down, and the teacher gave them religious instruction with regard to compassion to living creatures. He said : * Even one instance of compassion to living creatures produces ten
million salutary results, And drives away infinite calamities and woes, and is the cause of
heaven and salvation.' Sunanda then made a solemn promise, saying: 'Reverend sir, henceforth I will not slay living creatures ; I will
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