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CHAPTER THREE guru's house, enduring with delight trials and attacks and observing the eighteen thousand kinds of good conduct.“19 When mendicancy has been undertaken, O delicate prince, these red chick-peas must be eaten constantly ; the boundless ocean must be crossed by the arms; walking on sharp sword-blades must be done with the feet; flames of fire must be drunk; Meru must be weighed, supported on scales; and the Gangā must be crossed against the current when it is flooded. The strength of very strong enemies must be conquered by one alone and the rādhavedha 420 must be performed on a whirling wheel, alas! Much character, much fortitude, much intelligence, much strength (are necessary), when mendicancy that has been undertaken is observed throughout life.”
After listening to this, the prince replied cleverly: "Honored parents, it is true that mendicancy is such as you describe. However, I say one thing Is a hundredth part of the trouble arising from existence seen in it (mendicancy) ? For instance, to say nothing of the manifest pains of hell, hard for words to describe and for ears to hear, in this world there are seen excessive binding, cutting, beating, etc., very hard to bear, of innocent animals. Men too have pains caused by diseases, leprosy, etc., by imprisonment, cutting off limbs, skinning, burning, beheading, etc. Even the gods suffer separation from friends, insults from enemies, pain hard to bear from knowledge of (future) falling."
His mendicancy (116-120) After he had made this speech to them, his father and mother, delighted, gave him permission to take the vow, saying, "Good ! Good !" His father joyfully held the departure-festival, and he went to the muni for initiation as one desiring fruit goes to a tree. Pronouncing the sāmāyika at the feet of the muni, Puruşasinha adopted
119 103. See I, n. 38. 480 107. See I, n. 360.
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