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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI
127
The layman said: 'Sister in religion, listen. This is the image of Malli, the future nineteenth, Arhat. Now hear, good lady, the reason why I worship the image of a future Arhat, the cause of good fortune to me.
64
I am a merchant in Käñcipura, the crest-jewel of the girdle of the ocean. One day a muni came there, Dharmagupta, possessing omniscience. The muni stopped in the garden Rativallabha. After paying homage to him, I asked him, "In, what congregation will my emancipation take place?" He told me: In the congregation of the Arhat Mallinatha, you will be King Prasannacandra in Mithila, after falling from heaven. After obtaining the sight of Malli, the nineteenth Arhat, omniscience having arisen, you will attain emancipation." From that time I have had great devotion to Mallinatha. After painting her image on canvas, I worship it, pious lady.'
After he had told his own story the layman asked her, 'Tell me, a brother in religion, who you are, fair lady.' Dhanadeva, tearful, told the excellent layman the whole story told by her, the separation from her husband, et cetera. The layman, his cheek rested on his hand, his eyes moist with tears, penetrated by grief which, as it were, was not contained in 143 Vaidarbhi, said: 'Do not grieve. Such actions being told are a source of pain to you. This caravan-leader is your father; I am your brother. Be at ease.'
At dawn the caravan-leader reached Acalapura and set down Vaidarbhi. He himself went elsewhere. Thirsty, she entered a tank at the city-gate quickly and was noticed by water-carriers like a water-goddess in person. On the edge of the water her left foot was seized by a lizard. Of the unfortunate trouble follows trouble as if from friendship with them. She recited the namaskāra three times and by its power her foot was released by the lizard, like an object kept in the throat by a sorceress. After she had washed her face, hands, and feet and had drunk the charming water, she left the tank
143 747. This requires asammät to be taken as an adjective.
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