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In the Lap of Conducive Discomforts
Water gives birth to lotus It is the wind that spreads its fragrance it is the sensitive soul that perceives the fragrance Each performs its share of labour to accomplish the task-the perception of the scent
(1) The Lord prepared himself for the initiation The members of his family bathed him with fragrant water Then his person was scented Some applied Goshirsha sandal, some scented powders and some others patwas (a kind of scented
powder) There emanated sweet fragrance from the Lord
The black-bees awoke to the scent They averted themselves from the wild flowers and lotus groves to hover over the Lord's person They circled round him and buzzed The quietude of the grove was vibrant with their melody The black-bees perched over the Lord They found no nectar there They flew away The lure of the fragrance again drew them and a failure to find nectar drove them away once more Irritated by this chain of failures they bit the Lord 1
(2) The Lord went to Karmargram Some youths were attracted by the fragrance of the Lord They found an opportunity to question him How to prepare the scented powder, Prince, that you have applied to yourself? The Lord deigned
1 Acharangachurni p 299, Awashyakchurni I pt pp 268, 269
