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CHAPTER SIX accomplished his desire.
When a month's fast had been completed recalling, the king's invitation, the ascetic, tranquil in mind, went to the palace-door. At that time the king was not well. A doorkeeper shut the door. Who looks at a mendicant monk then ? He was blocked by the door-closing like a flow of water by a dam. The ascetic returned by the same road by which he had come. Deciding on a month's fast, he went back to the jar. He was not angry. Great sages rejoice at an increase in penance.
The king, who had recovered, devoted to ascetics, went the next day, bowed, asked his forgiveness, and said to him:
“I invited you for merit, but demerit was acquired. Generally, demerit alone is the guest of those living in sin. I prevented your breaking fast elsewhere, Blessed One. Friendly speech of one who does not give creates an obstacle for receiving elsewhere. At the fast-breaking of the second month's fast, please adorn my courtyard like a kalpa tree Nandana.”
The ascetic agreed and the king went home. He kept counting on his fingers the day for fast-breaking. When the month's fast was completed, the ascetic went to the palace. By chance the king was ill as before. The door being shut in the same way, he turned away and went to the jar. When the king had recovered, he invited him as before.
When the third month's fast had been completed, the ascetic went in the same way and the king was ill again in the same way. The King's servants thought, “Whenever this ascetic comes, then our Master becomes really ill.” They instructed the guards, “ This ascetic, the minister's son, must be thrown out, even as he enters, like a serpent.” The guards did just so and the ascetic made a nidāna, “ May I be instrumental in the destruction of this king.” The ascetic died and was born as a Vānamantara of little magnificence. The king too, having become an ascetic, reached that same status. Sumangala fell and was born the son of King Prasenajit, named
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