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Also, of this human exisience ? Or, of wiat use is tols enjoyment of pleasures resulting in mlefortunes ? When we can not even give food and drink to such a devout saint, although he has been visiting our houses. How shall we cross, without dāpa (alms-giving this ccean of worldly-exlstence filled with the waters of Karmas, and full of alligators in the form of numerous miafortures and terrible whirl- winds. Or, such worthy ascetics will come to the houses of fortunate individuals and will delight their hearts by accepting their aims. If this Venerable Saint is given gifts of food and drink-materials only once any how, then, the happiness of svarga (heavens), and of Moksa (Final Liberation ) is in the palms of one's hands." When the venerable Jiceśvara did not accept anything although he had been repea. tedly offered various articles of food and drink-materials as alms at numerous houses, the people of the town were much distressed.
After roaming about in Kausānıbî for alms for four months, one day Šramaņa Bhagavārs Mahävîra entered the house of Sugupta mantri (minister Su-gupta ). At once recognizing him from a distance, Oh ! He is Sramaņa Bhagavan Mahāvīra' Sunandā-the minister's wise,-joy fully got up from her seat, and offered to him several articles of food and drink-inaterials. But on seeing the sorrowful condition of Su-janda when Śraniana Bhagavan Mahävira went away without accepting anything, her maid-servants told her :-' Ah I we cannot understand why the god-like saint goes away everyday without accepting alms.' Sucandă conjectured :-" The Venerable Jinéśvara must have taken some particular vow and as the conditions of that vow are not fulfilled, he goes back without accepting any a!ms." With this idea uppermost in her mind, Su-nandā was greatly afflicted. She left off an her house-hold affairs, abandoned decoration of her body, and she sai resting her cheeks mournfully on the palms of her hauds. The miniatur returned hone, and on seeing Suna. ndă in a sorrowful state, he asked her "_" () lotus-faced ! Why do you look grieved at heart without any cause? I do kuow if I have offended you in any way? Besides, I being alwa's ready in abstaining from ill-treatment, it is not possible that any other
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