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CHAPTER SEVEN deliver gifts of pearls, et cetera and dismissed the minister. Ardrakakumāra sent valuable objects, coral, pearls, et cetera, to the hand of the minister himself for Abhaya. The man went with the minister to Rājagpha and delivered the gifts to Śreņika and Abhaya. The chief-minister delivered the message to Abhaya, “Ārdrakakumāra desires brotherly friendship with you."
Abhaya, expert in Jain doctrine, thought to himself: “He was surely born in the Anāryas because of injured mendicancy. Now he, a king's son, noble-minded, is near being capable of emancipation. I do not wish friendship with persons not capable of emancipation nor with those whose capability is remote. Friendship is usually between persons of equal merit and demerit. They would have the same character. Friendship arises from the sameness of character. Having made him a follower of the Jina by some device, I am a friend and he is a friend who goes forward on the road of dharma. Perhaps from the sight by Ardrakakumāra of a Tirthakşt-statue, the best recollection of former births will arise. So under pretext of a gift, I shall send a fine Arhatstatue, made of jewels, that has been consecrated by a great ācārya."
With this idea, he himself put such an unequaled statue of the god Ādinātha, a cow of plenty of good fortune, in a box inside a basket. Then he put before it all the apparatus of a pūjā to the god-an incense-burner, little bells, et cetera. After he had put a lock on the opening, King Śreņika's son sealed the basket with his own seal. The King of Magadha dismissed King Ardraka's servant with wonderful gifts and friendly talk. Abhaya put the basket into his hand and, after rewarding him, said in a voice of nectar: “ Present this basket to Ardrakakumāra and tell this message of mine to him, my brother: 'After unsealing this basket yourself alone in secret, the object to be seen inside must not be shown to anyone.'” Saying, “ It will be done so," the man went to his own city and delivered the presents to his master and his
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