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CHAPTER FOUR
him, and listened before him to a sermon, their hands folded submissively.
At the end of the sermon, after they had bowed to the muni, they said: 'By good fortune you were met like a torch by us afflicted by the darkness of ignorance. Tell us all our former births, Blessed One. The knowledge of persons like you is for the benefit of others, like the sunrise.'
Story of Abhayaghoșa (116–157) The muni related: 'In the continent named Dhătakikhanda in East Airavata there is a city named Vajrapura. Here there was a king, Abhayaghoșa, a proclamation of fearlessness to the distressed. His wife was named Suvarnatilakā. Two sons were born to them, Vijaya and Vaijayanta, and they gradually acquired the collection of arts and attained youth.
Now, in this Airavata in the city Svarnadruma there was a king, Sankha, with virtues shining as a conch. He had a daughter by Queen Pșthvi, named Přthvīsenā, heralded by the sight of a wreath of flowers placed on (the queen's) lap in a dream. She gradually attained youth and acquired the collection of arts which nourish a high degree of beauty and distinguished cleverness. Thinking, “He is a suitable bridegroom for her," King Sankha gave the maiden to Abhayaghoșa. The best of kings dallied with his bride Pșthvisenā, like Ramāpati with Ramā.
One day in spring a slave-girl, carrying spring flowers, came near King Abhayaghosa. Queen Svarṇatilakā saw her and said to the king, “The garden Şađộtuka has been adorned by Spring. Now let us go with a suitable retinue to embrace the newly arrived Lakşmi of spring, 884 husband.” Just then Pithyīsenā approached the king and handed him a bouquet worth a crore. The king,
384 126.
See I, n. 1.
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