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CHAPTER SIX She was born the daughter of a fisherman, named Kāņā, ill-smelling, ill-favored, on the bank of the Narmadā near Bhrgukaccha. Abandoned on the bank of the Narmadā by her parents, who were unable to endure her odor, when she was grown she constantly ferried people across the river). By chance the sage Samādhigupta came there in the cold season and spent the night in kāyotsarga, motionless as a mountain. Thinking, "How will the mahātma endure the cold all night?' tender-hearted, she covered the muni with grass. At daybreak, she bowed to the muni and the great muni taught her dharma with the thought, . She is predisposed to dharma.'
After thinking for a long time, I have seen him, some place,' she asked the muni and he related her former births. The sage said again, “You have been born here, evil-smelling, because of the disgust you showed for the sādhu. Everything is in accordance with karma.' She, whose memory of former births had arisen, begged forgiveness of the muni for the disgust shown in a former birth, blaming herself repeatedly. She became a laywoman and was entrusted to Aryikā 197 Dharmaśri by the compassionate muni.
She wandered with her, and Dharmasri, who died in some village, entrusted her to a layman Nāyala. Living in a solitary house, constantly engaged in worship of the Jinas, she passed twelve years under Nāyala's protection. She fasted, died, and became Indra Acyuta's chief-queen, with a life-term of fifty-five palyas and, when she fell, she became Rukmiņi. Because she caused the separation of the peahen and her son, Rukmiņi will experience the pangs of separation from her son for sixteen years.”
After hearing this, Nārada bowed to the Blessed One, flew up, and went to the city Meghakūța on Vaitāļhya. Nārada said, “By good fortune a son was born to you,' and was honored by Samvara; and Pradyumna was shown to him.
199 253. I.e., sadhvi.
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