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63. ARHANNAKA
Arhannaka's father Datta by name was a merchant in the city of Tagară. In the same city, there lived a famous religious man called Arhanmitra under whose influence Datta with his wife Bhadrā and son Arhannaka renounced the worldly life and took to the hard way of monk but the fatherly affection in Datta would not allow him to permit his son to go with a begging bowl and beg for his nourishment. Instead the father brought him food and whatever else he needed, his explanation being that the young son was very delicate in his health. The other monks did not approve of this but they did not object.
In course of time, the old merchant Datta died and now the other monks made Arhannaka join them on a long begging tour during which he had to beg for himself. His delicate frame could hardly stand the rigours of the hard life of the monk and he very often lagged behind. Once as he was resting his tired body under a tree, a merchant's wife, whose husband had recently gone away on a long journey, saw him and took a fancy for his handsome form. She sent her maid servant to call him in her house and when he came, she served him delicious food. She wanted to know why precisely he was practising such austerity at such a young age. "For happiness" he said. She pointed out that there would be happiness enough in her company as well. He deserted his religious order and took to the enjoyment of pleasures in the company of the young woman.
The monks in whose company he was travelling searched for him everywhere but since he had entered a household, they could not find him. His mother became almost insane with grief for her
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