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CELANA'S PALACE, DURGANDHĀ, ĀRDRAKUMĀRA 187 house, indifferent to worldly matters. He set out for Rājagpha and on the way he saw his own five hundred vassals engaged in the business of theft. When they saw him, they paid homage to him devotedly. He said to them, “ Why has this livelihood, a source of evil, been practiced by you?” They replied: “ Lord, when you fled after deceiving us, we did not show ourselves to the king from shame. Wandering over the earth, engaged in searching for you, we live only by the occupation of thieving. What else is there for people without money and with weapons ?” The muni said: “Sirs, if a misfortune has happened, its result connected with dharma bears fruit in the two worlds. A human birth is attained by some union with merit. When it has been reached, its fruit is dharma which confers heaven and emancipation. Non-injury to creatures, truthfulness, honesty, chastity, poverty-let this dharma of the Arhats be esteemed by you. You are devoted to you master. Look, sirs ! I am your master like a king. Therefore, do you, intelligent, enter on this road of mine."
They said: “At first you were our master. Now you are our guru. We have this dharma expounded by you. Favor us with initiation.” Accordingly Ārdrakakumāra initiated them and together with them went toward Rājagpha to pay homage to Sri Mahāvira.
Gośāla met the muni as he was going and began a debate without making obeisance to him. Inhabitants of the earth and inhabitants of the sky (Khecaras) came there by the thousand and stood, forming an assembly, their eyes wideopen from curiosity. Gośāla said:
“Sir, misery rooted in penance is useless. Fate is the cause of pleasant and unpleasant results, certainly.”
The muni replied: “Do not say 'Happiness is.' Consider effort the cause for this reason. If you consider Fate to be the cause of all things, then your action would be useless for the accomplishment of your wishes. For instance, why do you, depending on Fate, not stay at home? Why do you
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