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first interview with Emperor Akabar. At the time he kept thirteen learned and shrewd sadhus with him. The Emperor and his circle got up to honour them. After the formal querries about health and welfare were over, he requested the Sūriji to go with him in an inner chamber of his drawing-room for further religious discussions. But at the sight of a the carpet spread on the ground, Sri Hiravijaya Suri at once stopped, and at the Emperor's enquing, he returned. We are not allowed to tread upon the carpet."
Wondering at this Akabar informed him that it was quite clean and asked what harm was there in walking over it, when life-less. The preceptor explained that it was incumbant on them, the Sadhus, to observe the gronud before stepping, as well as, sitting.
Naturally the King smiled at this and asking himself what possibility was there of the presence of life in such a clean thing, as he lifted up corner of the carpet a swarm of ants was seen. Wonderstruct at this, the Emperor was nicely impressed at the very first meeting
Then when they were seated on suitable seats, at the conclusion of general instructions Śri HIravijaya Sûri explained to him the real nature of the divinity, a precepter, and piety. Akabar learnt from the discouse that the Acarya was a talented and learned personage. Then he bade to be brought a collection of books that he possessed and besought the preceptor to accept the same. The Surij replied, "We keep only such books with us as can be borne by our own self. We can get the books wher
*Before the arrival of Śri Hiravijaya Sūri, Padmasundaraganl of Nagapuriya Tapagaccha had interviewed the Emperor and having defeated a dissutent in the court had dedicated his books to the king. The same collection of books is being handed over to the teacher.
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