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devotion they said:-Swamin! Please direct your foot-steps this way and do us the favour of accepting this pure fool', Having invited the Sädhu with words full of devotion, they took up the dish of the rice-pudding and gave the entire rice-pudding with one effort. With their desires completely satisfied, they followed the sādhu seven or eight paces and having again saluted the sâdhu with their hearts filled with joy, they repeatedly praised the sadhu Coming into the house they stood near the dish, and knowing it to be untimely, they did not say anything to their mother owing to their virtuous quality of Right Thinking, Such a dāna (gift of food etc) was not given by any one Secondly-Their tapaḥ (aus. terity) is excellent. Because when both of them'returned to Bhādrā Mātā's house for alms after a lapse of twelve years, they were not recognized by Bhadrā Mātā or by the wives of Sâlibhadra or by the servants who were daily rendering them service. So severe was their tapas (austerity). Thirdly-When Śälibhadra was only requested to give a salutation to king Śrépika by Bhadra Mātā, then, disregarding the immense divine pleasures that he had been enjoying from his birth, he thought:-Even now, dependence on others is not gone. Happiness dependent on others is only a form of misery, Therefore, for the protection of my own honour and for the acquisition of happiness which is in one's own hands, I will accept caritra (ascetic lite) which is respected by hordes of gods, demons, and of human beings. In the same way, Dhanya also, on hearing from his wife that Salibhadra was abandoning his wives one by one at a time, and saying that abandoning of wives one by one was a sign of timidity and accepting the taunts of his wives in pleasing tones, he abandoned his eight wives all at a time Disregarding immense wealth and prosperity: as a piece of straw, he became eager in accepting câritra (ascetic life). This also is their excellent act. Fourthly-Even till now, the dimdim of their fame prevails in laukika (general masses) as well as in lokottara (persons who are eager for doing religious duties) in this world. If any one becomes elated with pride, on getting some wealth, then another says to him":-Are yon a
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