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TRANSLATION
165
373. and said: 'What sense is there for me in living when I am in this condition? So bring me an animal at once and tie it here
374. so that I make an offering with mantras and may offer it to you; then cook it and eat it for this is our family tradition.
375. Then after living as a hermit I will abandon this life.' That shameless family fetched a goat and tied it in a pit. 376. He gave it continually the leavings of his food and drink and even made it eat the discharge from his body.
377. He used to pull out its hair and examine it until it had become leprous; then he offered it to them and they killed and ate it.
378. The bodies of all of them then became infected with the disease of leprosy whilst Seṭuka arose and went into the forest.
379. Being thirsty he drank somewhere in a pool, water 380. fouled by the bark, leaves, flowers and fruit of bibhitaka
and other trees and by the heat; and being averse to life and desirous of release from it he went on drinking the water. Within a few days his leprosy passed from him.
381. When he came back home his family asked him: 'How has your leprosy gone away?' the brahmin replied: 'It was removed by the gods.'
382. He looked at his family diseased by an oozing leprosy : and said: 'You are experiencing all the fruit of contempt for me.'
383. They asked: 'Did you infect us with this leprosy ? He replied: Yes'. Then the people cried: Shame upon you'.
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384. Greatly condemned by the people he went from the city of Kausāmbi to Rajagṛha and entered the city gatekeeper's house
385. who said to him: Stay with me and I will provide.' So he used to give him the oblation offered to the yakşini of the gate,
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