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jarsi. Soma Candra Tāpasa went to his āśrama-Valkalaciri wan dered in the forest in search of the pros-hermits, but he did not find them. Moving about here and there, Valkalacirî met a rathika (a charioteer) Thinking him to be a hermit Valkalaciri told him :--O Tāta! ( addressing elders ) I salute you'- The charioteer inquired : 0 Kumara 1 Where you going? Valkalacîrî replied :--O Maharsi! I want to go to Potana Āśrama'-The charioteer said :--I am also going in the direction of Potana Āśrama.' On hearing this, the innocent but extremely virtuous Valkalacirî followed him. On the way, Valkalaciri, addressing the wife of the charioteer who was sitting in the chariot, said :O Täta (addressing an elder ) I salute you the female told her husband .--This young boy addresses me as tāta ( father ). How sweet is his speech ? The charioteer replied -He is the son of a tāpasa ( hermit) living a forest destitute of a female. Being gerfectly ignorant about the distinctive knowledge about a male and a female, he only knows you as a male,' Besides, on seeing the oxen yoked to the chariot, Valkalaciri asked the charioteer :-O Tāta! Why have you tied these deer, thus ( as he had seen only deer in the forest ): It is not fit for hermits to do so' The charioteer smilingly said O Muni! These deer have done evil deeds and so they suffer'. The charioteer, then, gave Valkalacîrî some sweet-meats which he liked much. Valka - lacirî ate the sweet-balls and becoming greatly delighted by its salubrious taste, he said :-O Munill have before eaten such delicious fruits given to me by Maharsis (great sages ) who were guests at Potana Āśrama.' Saying so, but becoming disgusted with eating Bilva and Analaka fruits and becoming delighted by the taste of sweet-meals, Valkalācırī Muni became anxious to go to Potana Asrama. On the way, the charioteer had a tough fight with a robber, and he dealt a severe blow to the robber. The robber said :- --Even an enemy's stroke is praiseworthy. You are successful by your blow. I am pleased with you. I have much wealth here So, O brother ! you take everything away.' The charioteer placed all the weaith in his chariot, and showing Valkalaciri the wav to the aśrama, saying O Muni! This is the
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