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the dangerous route, saying “O Venerable Saint, A huge snake emitting poison from his eyes causes intense trouble to people near the Kanaka khala äśrama, please. therefore, do not go by that way'. Śrumaja Bhagavān Mahåvira always desirous of rendering good service to another thinking chat the superior soul of the suake would be easily enlightened although advised not to go that way, continued to walk towarris the Kanaka khala Āśrama, which was tull of trees of camphor cionamom, tamarinds and other tall trees; which was beautified with. atimuktaka, vägantika (a spring-plant) and plantain plants; in which the branches of trees were charmingly besmeared as if by oil by the clouds of smoke issuing from sacred fires of sacrifices done by permits; in which young sprouts of trees were making signs, as it were, by shaking wita wiad, to śramana Bhagavān Mahavira of avoid. ing the danger of coming there and the Aśrama in which the constant fearful noise of birds indic:sted the terror of the presence of the snake. Srawana Bhagavân Mahävira entered the Asrama and remained in Kayotsarga in the pavilion of the temple of Yaksa with the object of admonishing Canda Kaus ky sarpa (snake named Caņda Kausika). Now, who was that snake in previous life? Here is his account:
There was a small town nained Kausika which was full of people prosperous with wealth, corn, gold etc, which had never seen the terror of devastation from the invading army of any enemy; which was full of sumerous merchants or had much water like the sea; which was full of sportive couples and virgins, like a collection of consteliarious; and which appeared lovely by the presence of gods, excellent preceptors, and learned men like the vault of the sky presided over by Ravi ( the Sun ) Soma (the Moon), Budha ( Mercury ), Guru (Jupiter ) etc. In that town, there lived a Brâhmaga named Gobhadra who was intelligent in in dialects of various provinces; who was well-versed in arts, sciences, and curiosities of various kinds; who was clever in grammar, prosody, astrology ctc; and who was always ready in the performance of religious rites. But he had completely satisfied all the townsmen by his intellect, politeness and various gentle
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