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for talks about the country, females, king, and deliclous food, but the silly person does not patiently bear the endurances of cold, heat, gaðfly, and mosquitoes out of carelessness.
3-4. Better to have a highly enraged enemy with an intention to inflict a blow, having a terrible death-inspiring glittering sword with sharp edge in hand; better to have a serpent capable of eating in abundance, with red eyes and ready to bite; better to have a fire with a series of long blazing flames enhanced by strong blowing winds ready to touch the body; but it is decidedly not proper to be addicted even for a moment, to this vile shra Pramāda, (carelessness ), which is the abode of all faults.
5. All the enemies however terrible they may be, afford worldly death only for one # Bhava, (existence), but this (carelessness ) results in numerous unbearable and severe miseries during every existence. It is, therefore, to be specially avoided.
6. Besides, its avoidance can be regularly (effeciently accomplished by abandonment of food. It is therefore proper for me to do severe austerities in every way."
Having, thus, made a firm determination, Visvabhūti Muni commenced a fasting of thirty days. He became more careful in observing religious rites. Practising meditation every day, he gradually stopped the unbridled condition of his mind. On the completion of thirty days' fasting, Visvabhūti Muni carefully cleaned his wooden utensils, and with an unhasty and steady gait, keeping his eyes Mat yugamätra, (the length of a yoke ( four hand-lengths ); going on a begging-tour for food and drink-materials to rich and poor families not before three hours after Sun-rise as prescribed in the Šāstras; and carefully examining the defects pertaining to the preparation of the food and driók-materials and the method of bringing them, without feel. ing pleasure on getting them, and pain at not getting them;
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