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CHAPTER THREE
umbrella. In time the mass of clouds stopped raining and the great muni stopped the vow for meditation made for the duration of the rain. Then the cowherd bowed to the muni together with rubbing his feet and, his hands folded submissively, said: 'Great sage, the season is disagreeable; the earth is dangerous from mud. Whence have you come today, as if not knowing weariness?'
The sage said to him “I came here from Pāņdudeśa and I intend to go to the city Lankā which has been purified by my guru's feet. As I was going, the rainy season intervened as an obstacle and the cloud began to rain in an unbroken stream. Traveling during the rainy season is not fitting for sages. Making a vow (to meditate) until the end of the rain, I have stopped here. The rain has stopped today, sir, on the seventh day. My vow fulfilled, I am going now to some house.
Dhanya said joyfully, 'Great sage, mount a buffalo of mine as a conveyance, for the muddy ground makes walking difficult.' The muni replied: 'Sages do not mount living creatures. For they certainly do not commit actions causing pain to others. Sages go on foot, no other way.' Saying this the muni went with him toward the town. With folded hands the cowherd bowed to the sage and said, “Please wait here while I milk the cow-buffaloes:'. He went to his own house and milked the cow-buffaloes quickly, took a pitcher of milk, and went to the muni. Considering himself extremely fortunate, joyfully Dhanya had the muni break his fast, the cause of merit.108 After passing the rainy season in Potana, the great ascetic went to an agreeable place by a road suitable for pure observation of care in walking. 109
Dhanya and Dhasari kept the lay vows for a long time, keeping right-belief as firm as engraving on a stone. Dhūsari and Dhanya, fortunate took the vow at the proper time, kept it for seven years, and died in concentrated meditation. Both
108 271. Dhanya acquired merit by providing the milk. 109 272. Iryasamiti. See I, n. 37.
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