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EMANCIPATION OF AJITA SVĀMIN AND SAGARA
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ambaştha, 848 māgadha,846 etc.? Or do you know the Vedas, or the Purâņas, or the Smrtis ? Or are you an astrologer, or are you expert in the triple science ? 345 Or are you an instructor in archery, or skilled in shield and sword, or practiced with the lance, or expert with arrows ? Or do you know the club, or are you learned with the staff, or powerful with a long spear, or expert with the mace ? Are you unstumbling in the use of the ploughshare, or have you obtained power in the use of the discus, or are you skilled with the dagger, or clever in a close fight? Do you know the heart of a horse, or are you able to train elephants ? Or are you an instructor in military-formations, or can you break up military arrays ? Are you a maker of chariots, etc., or a driver of chariots, etc.? Or are you skilful in metals, silver, gold, copper, etc. ? Are you expert in making shrines, palaces, mansions, etc., or clever in building various machines, forts, etc. ? Are you the son of a sea-trader, or the son of a caravan-leader ? Or are you a goldsmith, or a jeweler? Are you skilled on the lute, or expert on the flute, or clever in playing the kettle-drum, or proud (of skill) on the drum ? Do you make recitations, or do you teach singing, or are you a stage-director, or an actor in the drama ? Are you a bard, or a teacher of dancing? Or a soldier sworn to fight to the end, or a spy? Do you know writing or drawing, or are you a painter or an embosser, or some other kind of an artisan ? Are you wearied by crossing male and female rivers and the ocean ? Are you expert in the use of magic, sorcery, and juggling?'
Questioned persistently by the king in this way, he howed again and said respectfully:
O king, you are the support of all worthy persons, as the ocean is the receptacle of water, and the sun of
848 232. Offspring of a brāhman and vaiśya-woman. MW s.v. 344 232. Offspring of a kşatriya-woman and vaiśya-man. MW s.v.
845 233. Reciting hymns, performing sacrifices, and chanting. MW s.v.
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