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Acchandaka accompanied the people to the place where śramaņa Bhagavān Mabāvīra was being served by mulatudes of people while he was in Kâyotsargă. Theni, holding the two ends of a piece of straw in the fingers of his hands, Accbandaka, stood in front of śramaņa Bhagavān Mahavīra, and said “O! Venerable Man! Will this piece of straw be cut or not ?" It was his intention that if the venerable saint said that it will be cut, he would not tear it and if he said otherwise, it would cut it off instantly. When Acchandaka was thus thinking about, Siddhārtna said " It will not be cu'. " On hearing this he began to tear the piece of straw into two
At this moment, sakréndra sitting comfortably on his lionseated throne, began to think-How does Ś amana Bhagavan Mahavira move about in villages, towns etc! Through the medi um of his Avadhi Jáāna Sakréndra knew the whole incident and he saw Acchandaka cutting asunder the piece of straw in front of Śramaņa Bhagavāu Mahāvira, Sakréndra thought-Ah! this great sinner tries even to falsify the world of the Tirthankara ! With this idea in his mind, Sakréndra hurled a sharp thunderbolt against him. The thunder-bolt coining with the velocity of manas (mind), cut off all the fingers of the hands of Acchandaka, before the piece of straw was torn agunder. With all his fingers cut by the stroke of thunder-bolt, Acchandaka became greatly embarrassed; and reproached by the village-people, he went away.
Siddhārtha, then, becoming greatly enraged told the people "Ah! that wicked man is a great thief. The people said "Bhagavăn! from whom did he commit a theft ?" Siddhārtha said “ Listen, here lives an artisan named Viraghoşa. On hearing his name, the artisan came forward from amongst the people, and with a low bow, said “O Bhagavān! I am the same person whom you named; now, please tell me what is to be done. Siddhārtha said "O good man ! was a small cup weighing ten palas (a weight of sour Karshas) belonging to you missing on a certain day? He replied, 'Yes.' Siddbārtha said " That wicked imposter bas stolen it." Viraghosa inquired “Where can I get it from ? Siddhärtha said “ Dig the ground one hand deep towards the East,
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