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CELAŅĀ'S PALACE, DURGANDHĀ, ĀRDRAKUMĀRA 169
Abhaya, afraid of his father, cautious by nature, skilled in counsel, wise, reflected in his mind: “ All my mothers are excellent wives by nature. I have been made their guard. Such is the father's command. That has been mentioned by my honored father which should not be mentioned. What shall I do? At first the lord's anger is unbearable like a riverflood. Nevertheless, lapse of time, after producing something different, will have effect. Perhaps from lapse of time the lord's anger will die.”
Then Abhaya set fire to old elephant-stables that were near the harem and had it announced, “The harem has burned down.”
Now at a suitable time, Śreņika asked the Supreme Lord, “Lord, does Celaņā have one husband or more?”
The Master replied: “Your lawful wife, Celaņā, is a model wife. Do not suspect her, who possesses the ornament of good conduct, of being otherwise.”
When Śreņika heard this, he felt remorse and, after bowing to the Lord, hurried at once to the city. The king asked Abhaya who was coming from setting the fire as told, “ Did you carry out my order?" Abhaya bowed with an añjali and said from fear,“ The master's order is authority for anyone else, how much more for me ?” The king said: “ Villain, why are you still alive after burning your own mothers? Why did you not fall into the fire ?”
Abhaya replied: “ Majesty, the death of a moth is not suitable for me who have heard the Arhat's teaching. At a suitable time I shall take the vow. If then there had been such an order to me, lord, doubtless then I would have experienced a death like a moth."
Saying, “Why did you commit such a crime even at my order ? " the king was seized by a fainting attack as if he had drunk poison. Abhaya himself sprinkled the king with cool water and when he had recovered, said:
“Lord, the harem is safe. You did this disfavor to my mothers from a reverse of fortune. I committed the sin of 22 M
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