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THE INITIATION AND OMNISCIENCE OF AJITA
free from disease, like gods physically. When the Blessed One had broken his fast, he left the house of King Brahmadatta, like an elephant leaving a pool after drinking. Thinking "No one must step on the footprints," King Brahmadatta had a platform of jewels made over the Lord's footprints. King Brahmadatta made a pūjā three times a day with flowers, etc., to the platform, considering the Jinesvara present there. If this platform had not been worshipped with ointment, flowers, etc., he did not eat, like a servant, 178 the master not having eaten.
The Lord's wandering (303-333)
The Blessed One wandered over the earth with unhindered progress like the wind, with carefulness in walking unbroken. Presented here with rice pudding and other things free from life; 174 there his lotus-feet anointed with pleasant ointments; awaited here by laymen's sons paying homage; followed there by people unsatisfied in looking at him; with auspicious waving of garments made by the people in some places; at other places given a receptiongift of curds, durvā-grass, unhusked rice, etc.; here urged by the people to permit them to lead him to their own homes; there his progress impeded by people falling on the ground; sometimes his lotus-feet wiped by the laymen with their hair; sometimes begged for instruction by the simple-minded people; free from possessions, free from selfinterest, indifferent to the world, the Master wandered over the earth, turning villages and cities into sacred places from association with himself.
Lord Ajita wandered at will, his mind unshakenjust as it was in the villages and cities-on big mountains and in big forests terrifying from the hootings of owls, with jackals giving loud howls, cruel from the hissing of serpents, with cats excited and yowling, formidable with
178 302. Attavela (?). See App. I.
174 304. Prasuka. I.e., fit for monks. See I, n. 17. For prāsuka, see Pravac. 881, p. 255b.
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