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CHAPTER FOUR
like brothers, with suitable gifts and, having helped Dhanadatta to accomplish his purpose, sent him to his own home.
Bandhudatta went to the city Nagapuri with the caravan, his son and Priyadarśanā, accompanied by Canḍasena. His brothers, who came delighted, and the king had him mount an elephant and enter the city with much honor. Bestowing gifts, Bandhudatta went to his own house and told his whole story to his brothers at the end of a meal.
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Again he said to all: Everything in this existence is worthless except the doctrine of the Jinas. This is my experience." The people became devoted to the doctrine of the Jinas from Bandhudatta's speech. Bandhudatta entertained Candasena and dismissed him. Bandhudatta lived there in comfort for twelve years. One day in autumn Śrīmat Pārsva stopped in a samavasaraṇa. Bandhudatta went there with Priyadarśana with great magnificence, bowed to Sri Pārśvanātha and listened to a sermon.
Previous birth of Bandhudatta (261-293)
He then asked the Lord: "Because of what acts did six wives die as soon as married and why did my separation and imprisonment take place?" The Master related:
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Here in Bharata on Mt. Vindhya there was a Śabara-lord, named Śikharasena, intent on doing harm, devoted to senseobjects. Priyadarśana was his wife, named Srimati, and you continued playing with her in mountain-thickets at that time. One day a group of sadhus, who had lost the way, came there wandering in the forest and was seen by you with a compassionate mind. You went and asked the sadhus, 'Why do you wander here?' They told you, 'We have lost the way.'
"
Srimati said to you, After feeding them with fruit, et cetera, help these munis cross the Vindhya-forest difficult to cross.' You brought bulbs, et cetera and they said: 'This is not proper. If there is anything devoid of color, odor, et cetera, give us that. Or fruit, et cetera, that was gathered a long time ago, is suitable for us.' On hearing that, you fed
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