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TRANSLATION
321
397. The king said: 'They will not do this again, release them.'
The muni replied : If they take the vows there will
be release for them.' 398. This being agreed on, he made his way to the royal court
together with the king. He then inducted them into the monastic life and the king's son took the vow
whole-heartedly. 399. Though the chaplain's son took the vow with repugnance
after being enlightened by Sāgaracandra, both in
the end became gods. 400. Next came the praising of the Jina, the question about
enlightenment and the statement that the chaplain's son would be hard to enlighten. So the latter said :
My friend, you must enlighten me in the duty of an
ascetic.' 401. Under the name of Metārya he was born to a meda woman
in Rājagpha. But she previously had been told by the
wife of a merchant : 402. 'If by chance we are brought to bed at the same time
then give me your child and I will give you mine which will have been destroyed by the fault of my
karma.' 403. By divine intervention they gave birth on the same
day and she handed over her son to the merchant's
wife whilst 404. the latter gave her daughter to the meda's wife who showed
it to her husband saying: “This is my daughter still
born because of an evil karma. 405. And Metārya reputed amongst all the people to be the
merchant's son enjoyed what he desired because of i merit accumulated from a former life. 406. When he had quitted the state of boyhood and mastered
the arts and reached an attractive adolescence his
father chose for him eight fine girls of great beauty. 407. At that juncture came along the god with whom he had
previously made a compact and who had earlier been known as Municandra's son.
