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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI 119 caravan-leader and made inquiries about his welfare in a nectar-sweet voice.
Some ascetics, who lived near and had heard her words, went there in haste and stood with ears pricked up, like deer. The cloud began to rain, beating the earth everywhere with streams of water like spades, hard to bear. They cried out, "We are being killed by these streams of water like arrows. Where can we go? Where can this water be avoided?'
Seeing these ascetics running away like wild animals, Bhaimi said, “Do not fear! Do not fear!' in a loud voice. After making a trench in a circle around them, the daughter of Kundina's king, the best of virtuous wives, declared firmly in a charming voice: “ If I am a virtuous wife; if I am devoted to the Arhat; if I am honest, may the clouds rain elsewhere than inside this trench.' At that very time by the power of virtue of Bhaimi's daughter the water did not fall inside the trench, as if an umbrella were held over it. Soon the mountain shone everywhere washed by the water, spotless, like a dark-bodied elephant bathed in a river. The mountain-caves became entirely filled with water, while the cloud was raining, like works of merit 133 of the Sri of water. Seeing that, they all thought, ' She is surely some goddess. No human has such a form, nor such power.'
Pure-minded Vasanta, the caravan-leader, asked her, Mistress, tell who is this god you worship?' Bhaimi explained: “O caravan-leader, this god is the Arhat, Supreme Lord, Lord of Three Worlds, a wishing-tree for the prayers of living beings. Worshipping him, I stay here without fear. By his power tigers, et cetera here have no power over me.'
After explaining the true nature of the Arhat, Vaidarbhi taught the Arhats' dharma, non-injury et cetera, to Vasanta, the caravan-leader. Vasanta accepted the dharma taught by her and said joyfully, 'By good fortune you, a cow of plenty
133 625. Such as digging a well.
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