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MAHAVIRA'S WANDERING AS AN ASCETIC 101
of evil, his great beauty blurred like a mirror sprinkled with water, his vow broken, his senses dull and his lotus-eyes dimmed, arrived at the council-hall Sudharmā, presided over by Sakra. When Sakra had seen Sangamaka, he turned his back on him at once and said: Listen, all you gods, to my words. The god Sangamaka, an outcaste in deeds, evil, just by being seen causes evil. Therefore, it is not fitting for him to be seen. That our Master was tormented was a big offence on his part. Is he not afraid of us, if he is not afraid of (future) existence? With the thought, The Arhats do not practice penance from others' assistance,' I did not punish this wretch at the time of such attacks. If the basest of gods remains here in future he will cause us evil. Therefore, he must be expelled from this heaven.
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With these words angry Vajrapāņi kicked the basest of gods with his left foot, like striking a mountain with a thunder-bolt. Knocked down by Maghavan's soldiers with various weapons, cursed by goddesses whose hands were twisted (into claws), laughed at by the Sāmānikas, the god, who had one sagara of life remaining, went to the peak of Meru, traveling in an aerial car named Yanaka. Sangamaka's wives announced to Sakra, We shall follow our lord, if you give the order. " Vasava permitted them, sad-faced, to follow Sangamaka, but he prevented the entire retinue.
On the next day the Teacher of the World, in wandering in that district, entered the enclosure of a cowhouse, wishing to break his fast. There an old woman of the herdsmen devotedly fed the Lord with rice pudding that had been left over, according to rules. The gods nearby, delighted by the Blessed One's fast-breaking after so long a time, made the five divine things there.
Then the Master went to the city Alabhikā in his wandering and stood there in statuesque posture, as steady as if he were in a painting. The Indra of the Vidyutkumāras, named Hari, came there, circumambulated the Lord, bowed to him, and said: "Lord, you endured attacks by which people like us are
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