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EMANCIPATION OF AJITA SVAMIN AND SAGARA
by Vidhuntuda (Rāhu)."" I recovered from him this wife dearer than life. Not even cattle endure injury to their females, O king. Your formidable arms have their purpose accomplished in support of the world; your wealth is fruitful in the destruction of the distress of beggars. Your power has its object gained by the gift of fearlessness to the fearful; your knowledge of the śastras is productive by the removal of the doubts of the learned. Your expertness in weapons is fruitful by the removal of thorns from the whole world; your other virtues have their respective objectives gained by benefiting others. Your brotherly attitude to other men's wives is well-known. it have a superior fruit in benefit to me, O king.
Let
With my wife present at my side I am tied by her, as it were, and am not able to fight with enemies employing trickery. I do not ask for a troop of elephants; I do not ask for a troop of cavalry; I do not ask for a troop of chariots; I do not ask for a troop of infantry. But I do ask from you, as assistance to me, protection of her like a deposit, O brother to other men's wives. One man may be lustful after women himself, though capable of protecting; another may be free from lust by nature, but incapable of protection. You are not lustful and you are capable of protecting, O king. Therefore I have come from a distance to make a request of you. If this deposit in the form of my wife is made your own, let me know. My enemy, though strong, is as good as dead.'
The moon of his face pure with the moonlight of a beaming smile, the noble-minded king said:
How little is asked of us by you coming from afar, like a kalpa-tree asked for leaves, like the ocean for water, like the cow of plenty for milk, like Mt. Rohana for a jewel, like Śrida (Kubera) for mere food, like a cloud for only shade. Show me that enemy of yours, that I may kill him. Then at once enjoy pleasures fearlessly, wise sir.'
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Jain Education International
349 388. At the churning of the ocean. Cf. Bhagavatapurāṇa, VI, 18. 12-13; Mahabharata I, 19.
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