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[ 37. 1.
and stayed in a big mountain-cave not very far from the city. Thinking it would be pleasing to me, my people told me about this. I saw the revered friars engaged in their own studies. I bowed to them with the face blooming like a lotus. I was received by them with a religious greeting. I asked them while being preached by those revered friars. Then waiting upon those sages for a short time, I entered the city. Now those revered friars went on during their monsoon-stay with fasting every month. I obtained the right belief.
Those four months passed away for me whose faith was increasing and who was attending upon them every day. A great anxiety came upon me in the latter part of the night; “To-morrow, indeed, those great ascetics will go away." Then I went out of the city to see the revered friars when the night remained only half a Yama. I went a little away; and soon the earth began to move; the mountain Gandhāra began to thunder; the fragrant wind began to blow; the sky (lit. the courtyard of the sky) began to shine; and the sound of victory began to spread. Then I, with joy still increasing started quickly when I saw in the vicinity of the cave of the Gandhara Mountain, the grass etc. cleaned up; the surface of the earth levelled; the fragrant water sprinkled; the flower-offerings scattered. The hosts of gods, fallen on feet were praising the revered friars. “ O you have fulfilled your human birth; your attachment etc. are worn out; the army of actions is defeated; you have crossed (37] the sea of births; you have attained the consummation of the happiness of eternal bliss."
