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MAHĀVĪRA'S FIRST SIX YEARS AS AN ASCETIC 65 Vijaya. With great devotion the merchant Vijaya himself, highly intelligent, gave food to the Master in accordance with rules for right food. “Oh, the gift ! the good gift,” the gods proclaimed aloud and made the five divine things, the shower of jewels, et cetera, on his house. When he heard that, Gośāla thought: “ This is no common ascetic, since this wealth came to the house of the man giving him food. So, abandoning this heretical painting of mine, I shall become his disciple today. Such a guru cannot be fruitless."
Just as he was reflecting thus, the Teacher of the World, the Lord, after breaking his fast, came to the same shed and stood in statuesque posture. Gośāla bowed to the Master and said: “I, though clever, was ignorant from negligence of the power of you, an ascetic. I shall be your disciple. You alone are my refuge.” With these words, he proceeded accordingly, but the Lord remained silent. Making his living by begging, Gośāla did not leave the Master's side day or night, having become his disciple from his own idea.
Gośāla's doctrine of Fate (388-418) At the end of the second month's fast the Master went to his house and was given food by the householder Ananda. At the end of the third month's fast, the Lord was given food called sarvakāmaguņa92 by the householder Sunanda. The wretched Gośāla, devoted to filling his stomach by begging, attended the Blessed Mahāvīra day and night. When it was the full moon of Orja (Kārttika), Gośāla thought to himself: “He is reputed to have higher knowledge. I shall test his knowledge.” “Master, tell me now what I shall get for alms in this great festival of the rainy season that is taking place in every house?” Siddhārtha, who had entered the Master, said: “You will receive sour rice-gruel, kodo millet, boiled rice, and a false rupee.”
After hearing that, Gośāla wandered like a dog from house 92 389. Literally, the quality of all desires.' PE, a food having all tastes, a savoury dish.' 9 M
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