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CHAPTER NINE
rejoiced and stayed in the water for a long time, like a riverranging elephant.
When Hari had finished the water-sport, he left the pool; Bhāmā, Rukminņi, and the others went to the bank and stayed there. Prince Nemi left the pool, like a, marāla, and went to the place on the bank where Rukmini and the others were. Rukmini got up, gave him herself her jeweled seat and dried Śri Nemi's body with her own upper garment. Under pretext of a jest, Satya said to Nemi:
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'You are always tolerant of us. So I, unafraid, speak to you, brother-in-law. You are the brother of Sārǹgin, overlord of sixteen thousand women. Why do you not marry even one girl, fair sir? Your beauty is unequaled in the three worlds, brightened by grace, and youth has recently appeared. This being so, why does this condition exist? Your parents, brothers, and we, your brother's wives, ask you: Grant their wish for marriage. Consider, yourself, indeed, how much time you have passed, a mere eunuch, solitary, without a retinue of wives! Are you ignorant, dried up, impotent? Tell us. You are devoid of pleasure in women, prince, like a forest-flower. Just as Vṛṣabhadhvaja founded the first tirtha, so he himself showed the auspiciousness of marriage. At the proper time undertake celibacy as you like. Celibacy is not fitting in the householder stage, like reciting a mantra in impurity.
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Then Jambavati said: 'In your line Muni Suvrata became a Lord Tirthankara, after he had married and had a son. Before and after him, those who married and attained emancipation are known in the Jina's doctrine. You certainly know that. You wish to become emancipated young, having left the path of those who have become emancipated, since you have been averse to women even from birth."
Angry at the affection shown, Bhāmā said: “ Friend, why do you talk to him uselessly in a friendly way? Surely, he is not to be won by gentle words. He has been talked to respectfully by his father, elder brother, and others in regard to marriage, but he has not regarded them at all. Let him
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