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CHAPTER ONE
days. A second minister said, 'This does not seem to me a good idea. Who, pray, will ward off lightning falling there? Since there are no bolts of lightning in avasarpiņi on Vaitadhya, our lord should go to a cave on top of it and live for seven days. A third minister said, 'I do not approve of that. For whatever event must take place necessarily will not be changed by any place whatever.
Story of Brāhman boy (202-219) In this very Bharata in the city Vijaya there lived a good Brāhman, named Rudrasoma. He had been childless but, because of great offerings with prayers, a son, Sikhin, was borne by his wife, Jvalanaśikhā. Once upon a time, a very cruel Rāksasa came there, installed by a cruel fate, fond of human flesh. Daily he kills many humans, but eats only a little and leaves the rest like refuse. The king said to him conciliatingly: "Why do you kill many men uselessly? Even tigers, et cetera, ignorant, kill one creature, a cure for hunger. Every day you too must take one man for food. He himself will come there in turn determined by myself.” This arrangement was endorsed by the Rākşasa.
The king made name-balls of the people living in his city to determine their turn. The one to whose lot the ball fell when it was drawn by hand, went forth, turned into food for the Raksasa, to protect the city. One day the ball of the Brāhman's son appeared. His name inside was read like a letter from Yama. When his mother heard that, she made even the cattle weep, crying pathetically, “Oh, son, you are dead ! You are dead!" Near her house was a large haunted house and her wailing, painful to the ears to hear, was heard by the demons. Their sympathy was aroused and they said to the Brāhman's wife: "Do not cry. Be at ease. Let your son go to the Raksas. We will bring him back to your presence in front of the Rākşasa. He will not transgress the law and neither will he die." Just as she said, "Good, O gods I good l" the guards seized
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