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and pātras ( wooden utensils used for begging alms ) for me, and bring with you a barber for removing my hair":
Dhāriņi Mātā, then, weeping bitterly, carefully took, out of affectionate love, the hair cut by the barber, and having placed them in a jewelled box as an object of remembrance for her, she kept the box under her pillow.
Having taken Mégha Kumâra to Sramaņa Bhagavān Mahā. vira with due pomp and ceremony, Dhāriņi Mātā, with a faltering voice, said 'O worshipful Lord ! This Mégha Kumāra is my only son. He is as dear to me as my life itself. For my own self, he is a precious gem in my house. Just as a lotus is produced in mire, and it grows in water but it is not defiled either by the dust of the nire or by the drops of water, in the same way, this Mégha Kumāra, born among worldly pleasures, and grown up in worldly enjoyments, is not, on hearing your preaching, willing to be defiled by worldly pleasures and enjoyments. He has become disgusted with the vagaries of worldly pleasures. He is desirous of leaving his house and taking Bhāgavati Dikṣā at your pious hands. He is willing to live with you. You will be pleased to give him Bhāgavati Diksā and accept him as your disciple.” At the time when śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvira admitted Mégha Kumāra into his Order of Sadhus, Dhārinī Mātă with a sorrowful faltering voice, said :--My dear son! Always work strenuously on this path. Be brave, do not neglect. May we aspire to walk on your foot-steps by your brilliant example'.
The family-members, friends, and acquaintances of Mégha Kumāra returned home with tearful eyes. Now, Mégha Kumāra had to plod his way single-handed. Śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra along with his assemblage of Sādhu-disciples had put up at Guna Šila Caitya of the town. It so happened that at the time of spreading beddings for the night, according to grades of seniority, the bedding of the newly initiated royal prince Mégha Kumāra came at the main entrance of the Caitya, and his bedding became
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