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26. GAJASUKUMALA CARITRA
The great monk Aristanemi in the course of his itinerary came to Dvāravati where he held his religious discourses to convey the message of his religion to the people and enlighten them. Aristanemi had six brothers. They closely resembled each other in form, figure and beauty. They all were bluish in complexion and bore the auspicious mark of srivatsa on their chest. At the hands of Aristanemi all the six of them took orders and became his disciples.
One day they asked their Master whether they could practise the fast known as sastha -bhakta till the end of their lives to purify their souls. Aristanemi told them they could certainly do that and do it without any further delay.
The six brothers divided themselves into three separate groups of monks, all practising the penance that they had said they would. Whenever they had to break their fast, they went out for alms which they collected from the top, middle and low caste families in the town. Once it so happened that one of the three groups of monks in which they had organised themselves went to the palace of kir Vasudeva and queen Devaki to beg. The queen was delighted to see the monks coming towards their palace. She quickly came forward to receive them, bowed to them respectfully and offered alms. Soon after, the second group of monks, which also included two of the brothers, came to the palace to beg. Queen Devaki treated the second group with as much respect as the first and offered alms. After some time, the third group also including two other brothers came and the queen was equally delighted and offered alms with the same respect. But she was greatly confused.
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