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CHAPTER THREE merchant gave them. Then he brought them a dish full of rich food and the bulls did not favor it even with a glance. Knowing their real nature, he suggested the renunciation of food. They agreed, wishing it, engaged in meditation. From compassion for them, the merchant himself gave up other work and continued reciting the namaskāra and explaining the duration in each category of) births. Listening to the namaskāras and thinking about the duration of births, they died in meditation and were born in the Nāgakumāras.
Then Kambala and Sambala saw by clairvoyance the attack that was being made on the Master by Sudādha. Thinking: “Enough of other business. This is our business that we ward off an attack on the Arhat,” they approached. One began to fight with the Nāga Sudādha and the other picked up the boat in his hand and took it to the river-bank. They, with the power of recent rank as gods, defeated Sudādha, though powerful, whose strength was ebbing away at the end of his life. Having failed in his purpose, Sudaňșțra went away; and the two young Nāgakumāras bowed and joyfully showered flowers and perfume on the Lord. “We escaped death, as well as the river by your power," the people on the boat paid homage to Vira devotedly. The two Nāgas bowed to the Lord and went away; and the Lord debarked from the boat. Having repented the airyāpathiki89 properly, the Lord went elsewhere.
Episode of Puspa (347–369) The Lord made distinct footprints marked with the wheel, et cetera, an ornament of the earth, in the fine, wet clay on the Gangä's bank. A man, named Puspa, who knew body-marks and signs saw them and thought: “Some cakravartin has gone alone. His kingdom has not yet been obtained or he has been captured by some one by a trick. I think he goes away
89 347. Supply kriyā. This is the slight action that even the most correct ascetic must commit, e.g. moving an eyelash. See Sütrakệtänga 2.2.23; Uttar. 29.71; Yog. 213 a.
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