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that all the prisoners should be released. The streets of Hastinapura were sprinkled with scented water and the best singers, dancers and actors were invited from far off places. Thus the celebrations went on in the traditional manner for ten days. All rituals related to the birth of a child were solemnly conducted and the child was given the name of Mahabala.
After his eighth year, Mahabala was sent to his teacher's house for education in various arts and as time passed, he acquired mastery in whatever he was taught and came back to his parents' palace an extremely accomplished young man, handsome like a god, brave and brilliant.
King Bala and his queen Prabhavati thought that it was now time for their son to get married and enter into grhasthās rama and enjoy the pleasures of life. Eight beautiful princesses from noble families were decided upon as the brides of the young prince and eight excellent palaces were constructed for them. On an auspicious day the wedding took place and the prince went to live in his eight palaces with his eight beautiful brides to enjoy heavenly pleasures.
One of these days when the prince was standing in the balcony of his palace, he saw down on the road large groups of people talking animatedly among themselves, looking quite cheerful and all going towards the park Sahasramravana outside the town. He kept on looking at the never ending stream of people and wondered whether there was any festive occasion that they were celebrating. He called one of the servants of the palace to ask what festival the people were celebrating of which he had no knowledge. The servant said there was no such holiday but the people were all going towards the park to listen to the great prophet Dharmaghosa who had arrived in the town. He further said that to listen to the enlightening speech of the prophet was almost like drinking nectar. The prince immediately ordered his chariot to be kept in readiness to go to the park where he would be most happy to meet the prophet. Accordingly he did travel towards the park but he got off from the chariot some distance from the park and walked it. This was part of his respect for the great teacher. When he saw him he
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