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CHAPTÉR THRÉE took away his hand again and, taking the place of a father, with great interest asked Bhaimi for her story, beginning with the loss of the kingdom. Her face downcast, weeping, Davadanti told the whole story, beginning with the gambling of Nala and Kūbara. The king wiped Bhaimi's eyes with his upper garment and said, ' Daughter, do not grieve. No one is stronger than fate.!
Just then a god descended from heaven to the council and, his hands joined respectfully, said to Bhima's daughter: 'Davadanti, I, the thief Pingalaka, took initiation at your order and went to Tāpasapura then in my wandering. I, resolute, stood in pratimā in a cemetery and a big fire started not far away, kindled by the fire of the funeral-pyres. Though burned by it, I did not fall from pious meditation but, after making ārādhanā, 148 reciting the namaskāra, I fell on the ground there and my body became fuel.
· After death I became a god, named Pingala. Then I knew by clairvoyance that I had been saved from execution by you and had been made to take mendicancy. By its power I became a god. If you had ignored me, a great criminal, at that time, fair lady, dying without dharma being acquired, I would have gone to hell. By your favor, Vaidarbhi, I attained the glory of being a god. For this reason I came to see you. Hail! noble lady.'
After this speech, the god rained seven crores of gold and departed, flying up in the air, like a mass of lightning. King Rtuparņa, best of the wise, adopted the Arhats' dharma whose fruit had been made apparent by the god in this way.
Then Harimitra, when an opportunity arose, said to the king: 'Majesty, give an order. After a long time let Davadanti go to her father's house.' Told the same by Candrayaśas, the king said, “Very well,' and sent Vaidarbhi with an escort to the Vidarbhas.
148 857. This is a final confession, but more also. It includes gratitude for being allowed to perform good actions; request for pardon for sins committed; complete submission to Arhat, Siddha, dharma, sādhu. Also includes fast unto death. The best ārādhana in the Trişaşțio is 10.1.230-265.
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