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STORIES OF THE PLOUGHMAN AND OTHERS
249
Hara, and stole the minds of the townspeople. But she, an advanced lay-woman, did not go even to see him.
On the fourth day in the north he created a divine samavasaraņa adorned with three walls, with wide portals. When the townspeople heard that he, having become the Jina, was stationed there, they approached him with especially great magnificence and listened to dharma from him. This being so, Ambada sent some one to harry Sulasā who had not come. He went and said: “Sulasā, the Master of the World, the Lord Jina, has stopped in a samavasaraņa. So come, lady. Why do you hesitate to pay homage to him ?”
Sulasā said to him, “He is certainly not the Teacher of the World, the Blessed One, Sri Mahāyira, the twentyfourth Lord Jina.” He replied: “ Foolish woman, certainly he, the twenty-fifth Tīrthakara, is here. See him before your eyes.”
Sulasā said: “Certainly there is no twenty-fifth Jina. This man is some evil-minded rogue who deceives the people."
He said: “Do not make a distinction. Propagation of the doctrine (of the Jinas) is taking place, lady. Come there. What harm to you will there be ?”
Sulasā said: “Propagation of the doctrine does not take place in this way by deceit, but only wrong propagation.”
When he saw Sulasā unshaken like this, resolute, Ambada, with confidence created in his heart, thought: “ The Teacher of the World justly honored her in the assembly. Her right belief was not shaken by me even by trickery.” Then suppressing all trickery, he entered Sulasā's house in his own form, pronouncing the naiședhiki.
Sulasā got up to greet him and said: “ Welcome to you, brother in religion, best lay-disciple of Vira, the brother of the world."
She washed his feet, affectionate like a mother, and paid homage devotedly to her own house-statues. He paid homage to her statues and said to her: “Pure-minded lady, pay homage to the permanent and impermanent statues with 32 M
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