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CHAPTER ONE births just at that time he swooned, and realized, " I saw such a one in Saudharma.” Sprinkled with sandal-water, he recovered, and he thought, “ How will my brother in a former birth be found?”
Wishing to know him, he gave a samasyā 321 of a half-śloka: “We two were slaves, deer, hansas, caņdālas, and gods likewise.”. He had proclaimed in the city: "I shall give half the kingdom to the one who completes my samasyā of half a śloka." Everyone, reciting the half-śloka which he had learned by heart like his own name, made a second half. But no one completed it.
At that time Citra's soul, the son of a rich man, who had become a mendicant from memory of his former births, came from Purimatāla, as he was wandering alone. Then in the garden Manorama where he occupied a bare spot of ground free from life, he heard the half-śloka from a water-drawer who was reciting it. “This is the sixth birth of us (now) separated from each other.” After supplying the second half of the śloka, he taught it to him (the water-drawer). The water-drawer recited the second-half of the śloka to the king and questioned by him, “Who is the poet?” said it was the muni. Giving him a gratuity, he went eagerly to the garden to see the muni like a tree of dharma that had sprung up.
After paying homage to the muni, his eyes full of tears, the king sat down near him, feeling affection from former births. After the muni, an ocean with water of compassion, had pronounced a blessing, he began a sermon as a favor to the king.
Sermon (499–502)
“ Your Majesty, in this worthless worldly existence, there is nothing else of value. Dharma alone is of value, like a lotus in mud. The body, youth, wealth, lordship, friends, relatives--all those are as wavering as the border of a banner
321 489. A part of a stanza to be completed.
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