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CHAPTER THREE
the news, saying, "May it not be the Arhat Vira," they went there with anxiety and saw the Blessed One in such circumstances. They paid homage to the Master and said to the guards: Fools, do you not know Vira, Siddhartha's son? Free him quickly. If Śakra knows about this fault, then the life-taking thunderbolt will fall on your head." Terrified, they set the Lord free and apologized.
Separation from Gośāla (587-595)
The Lord went to the city Viśāli. On the way there are two roads. Gośāla said to him: "I shall not go with you, since you look on like a neutral while I am beaten. Furthermore, the attacks on me may be caused by attacks on you, since fire soon burns even the wet from its contact with the dry. Besides, people beat me first, then you. Perhaps I obtain food, perhaps not, from the suffering. Who, pray, would serve you, who make no distinction between a stone and a jewel, a forest and a town, sunshine and pavilion, fire and a flood, one wishing to kill you and a servant? I am like a son, simpleminded. The service to you, like service to a tall pisaca100 which I did by mistake, that must be remembered. Henceforth, I shall certainly not do it." Siddhartha said: 66 Do whatever you like. There will certainly be no change in our conduct." Then the Blessed One set out by the road leading to Viśāli and Gośāla went alone to Rajagṛha.
Gośāla's experience alone (596-604)
As he went along Gośāla entered a large forest occupied by five hundred thieves, like a mouse into a cave filled with snakes. A servant of the robbers, who was perched in a tree like a vulture, saw him at a distance and said to the robbers, Some naked man with nothing is coming." They said, Nevertheless, he must not be allowed to go. He may be a Moreover, he leaves after injuring us. That would not
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