________________
CHAPTER TWELVE
thought,This muni, standing on the bank, like a bank-tree, will be carried away now by the volume of water, if I show indifference.' Then the deity turned the mountain-river to its own bank from another direction. Everywhere there is safety indeed for those practicing penance. Külaväluka was the name of that muni. Now he is in that place, a great ascetic." Her eyes open with astonishment, she went away at once, like one satisfied from the information about Külavāluka, a tree whose fruit is deceit. Paying homage to the temples, under pretext of a pilgrimage, she went to the place where the sage Külaväluka was. After paying homage to the excellent muni, the fictitious laywoman said, "I want to pay homage to the holy places, Ujjayanta, et cetera through you, muni.' The muni gave up kayotsarga, gave her the blessing Dharmalābha," paid homage to the holy places, and asked, "Whence have you come, lady?" She said: "I have come from Campā to pay homage to the holy places. You have been worshipped here, the best tirtha of tirthas. Favor me, great sage, by breaking your fast with these provisions of mine, free from faults for alms."
328
66
His mind softened by her devout behavior, the muni went to take alms in her caravan, the abode of evil. The false laywoman, delighted, gave him sweetmeats in which (other) substances had been previously mixed. He became very ill from dysentery as soon as the sweetmeats had been eaten. For the result of the inherent quality and efficacy of substances can not be changed. The sage became weak from dysentery so that, his strength diminished, he was not able to move his limbs.
Māgadhikā, remembering the courtesan's art at the right time, said to him: "You broke your fast from a desire to favor me. Immediately after eating my food, Master, you have reached this evil condition. Shame on me, a river of evil! Leaving you alone after you have reached such a state, my feet are unable to go, as if they were chained."
With these words, she stayed there and approached him
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
