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CHAPTER THREE
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They said: Take the direction toward the setting sun. We are in a hurry and are not able to show you the road. After getting water, we shall go to our own caravan. It is here. If you go in it, we shall conduct you to some inhabited town.' She went with them to the caravan and the caravan-leader, Dhanadeva, compassionate, questioned her, Who are you? And why are you here?' Bhaimi said: I am a merchant's daughter. I left my father's house with my husband and during the night, while I was asleep, he abandoned me on the road. I was brought here by these men of yours like brothers. Take me, good sir, to some inhabited place.' The caravanleader said, 'I am going to Acalapura. You come, too, daughter. I shall take you like a flower.' With these words the caravan-leader, affectionate, seated her in the best carriage, like a daughter, and started quickly...
Then the crest-jewel of caravan-leaders camped the caravan in a mountain-arbor with a cascade with murmuring water. During the night Vaidarbhi, comfortable, happily sleeping, heard the namaskāra recited by some one in the caravan. She said to the leader: This man reciting the namaskāra is a coreligionist of mine. So I wish to see him with your permission.' To fulfil her wish the caravan-leader, like a father, took her to the shelter of the layman of the namaskāra. Bhaimi saw the layman, like a brother, performing caityavandanā,142 inside a tent, like tranquillity embodied. During the caityavandana, Bhaimi remained seated, her eyes full of tears, showing approval of the devout layman. Nala's wife saw the Arhat's image painted on canvas, dark as a cloud, being worshipped, and she paid homage to it. At the end of the caityavandana Bhaimi asked him who had given an auspicious greeting, 'Brother, of which Arhat is this the image?'
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142 734. Caityavandana (or a) is a ritualistic performance. The worshipper must be in a proper spiritual state of mind, sit in a prescribed manner, and recite certain sutras, during which, at certain places, he makes añjali and other gestures of worship. For a detailed account, see the Lalitavistără.
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