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CHAPTER SIX
I wish a child borne by you, lady, pleasing to look at. There should be fruit of the vine of our love even after a long time. You are my life: you are another body of mine; you are my minister; you are my friend. So, in this matter of a son, try by prayers, et cetera.
Sulasă said: I shall make a propitiation of the Arhats, husband. A propitiation of the Arhats, alone among all religious practices, is a cow of plenty.
Even though she was pure from birth, she purified herself especially by penance hard to endure, the ācāmāmla, 150 et cetera. Adorned with a few pearls like a new-blown jasmine; wearing saffron garments like the morning twilight with red clouds; devoted to worship of those free from passion, observing chastity; her mind concentrated in meditation, her heart was tender from her husband's sorrow.
"Now
Now, Śakra in his assembly gave a commendation, laywomen in Bharata are inferior to Sulasă.” A certain god heard this, his ears pricked up from astonishment, and went to test Sulasa's laymanship. After making the niṣedhikā,151 in the form of a sadhu he entered the house of Sulasa who was engaged in the worship of the gods. When Sulasa had seen him who had come like a cloudless rain, she paid homage to him with devotion and asked the reason for his coming. He replied: "A doctor told me that a fine oil made from a lac of ingredients is in your house. Give it because of sickness.
150 61. 151 66.
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Saying, This preparation of oil will benefit the sadhu by its results, she brought a pitcher of oil joyfully. The god made the pitcher of oil fall from her hand of its own accord. It burst at once with a cracking noise, like an egg that has fallen from the nest. She brought again a second pitcher of oil and it burst in the same way; but she did not despair. She brought a third pitcher and it also burst. She
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66
33
Dry meals, such as plain cooked rice and flour-cakes. See I, n. 374. Warding off other business. See I, p. 82, n. 122.
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