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CHAPTER THREE
and some struck together; while musicians sang auspicious songs sweetly, and Brāhmans, bards, etc., recited blessings, Sagara's coronation was made properly by the chiefpriests at the command of Ajita Svāmin.
All the kings, vassals, and ministers, bowed to Sagara, like the people to the rising sun 154 with folded hands raised to their foreheads. The chief-citizens approached, carrying choice presents, and bowed to the King like the new moon, 256 with devotion. “We have not been abandoned by the Master, since he has made this other embodiment of himself our leader,” the people said, rejoicing.
Now the Blessed Lord Ajita, an ocean of compassion, began to make gifts for a year, like a cloud beginning to rain. The gods, named Tiryagjțmbhakas,166 sent by Dhanada at Vāsava's command, came there. Then they brought money which had been dropped or lost, whose owners had died, whose marks (of ownership) had been completely obliterated, whose masters had vanished, which was in mountain-caves, deposited in cemeteries, and hidden in houses. They made piles of it on the ground at the entrance and exit at triangular places, at rectangular places, at the junctions of three roads, and at the junctions of four roads. At every junction of three roads, on every road, at every junction of four roads, the Master had a proclamation made, " Take this gold.” The Lord of the World, seated from sunrise till meal-time,167 gave to everyone whatever gold he asked for. Every day the Lord of the Universe gave one crore and eight lacs of gold to petitioners. Then in one year the Lord gave three hundred and eighty-eight crores and eighty lacs of gold.168 As a
154 175. See n. 32. 155 176. See I, n. 209.
156 179. The same as Jşmbhakas, a class of gods who were servants of Kubera.
157 184. The Jain must take his evening meal before sunset. 158 186. On the basis of the sāvana year of 360 days. Cf. Thibaut,
p. 7.
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