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ŚRĪ MALLINĀTHACARITRA
. 65 Covering their noses with their garments, they turned away from the odor, like cowards from enemies.
"Well, sirs, why are your backs turned?" asked by Malli, they replied, “We can not bear that terrible smell," Malli said: “That is a golden statue. Such an odor comes from the throwing of food into it every day. What shall we say of that which originates in the womb from the semen and blood of the parents; afterwards becomes an embryo, then a fetus; then nourished by a liquid from food and milk made by the mother, plunged in the hell of the placenta, made to live in the excrement of the body? What is the value, even small, of the body originating in this way, the store-house of filth, itself characterized by chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen, 48 the sole channel of urine, a bag of skin for phlegm, having an evil odor, resembling a city-sewer ? In this case the means of the funeral pyre, fragrant camphor, et cetera, become dirt, like a rain of nectar becoming salt in saline soil. How can discerning people show the least: devotion to this body disgusting inside and outside? Do you, foolish, not recall the penance that you performed with me as mendicants in the third birth (before this)?” 49
To the kings considering Malli's words, the memory of the birth arose. What may not result from the favor of the Arhat ? 50 Then Malli opened the latticed doors and the six, enlightened, approached her and said:
"We recall that in a former birth we seven friends practiced severe penance together by agreement. It is well that we have been enlightened by you ; it is well that we have been saved from hell. Henceforth, teach what is right. You are our guru, lord."
"At the right time you must become mendicants," saying, Malli dismissed the six kings and they went to their respective cities.
48 192. The 7 dhātus, or elements. See I, n. 74. 49 196. 1.e., the birth next to the last. 60 197. I.e., Malli.
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