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The Unknown Pilgrims
namaskāra-mantra and ignored her sufferings. On the fourth day, Dhanāvaha, finding the house closed, sent someone in search of the keys. When he opened the door of the dungeon and saw Candana's state, he sobbed aloud. She forthwith consoled him. So enfeebled was she that she asked for food. Now, the only food in the house was a dish of left-over black beans, kept for the horses. Dhanăvaha gave them to her and departed at speed to find the blacksmith in order to sever the chains. Before starting to eat, the thought came to Candanā that perchance a śramaņa might arrive at that hour to beg for food and she proceeded to wait. Now in those days Šramana Mahävira had been fasting already for more than five months and he had specified an abhigraha,56 namely, that he would only break his fast when a virgin princess, weeping and in chains, should offer him black boiled beans. On his way through Kauśāmbi he arrived as far as the house of Dhanăvaha. He approached Candanā, but then retraced his steps, for one condition remained unfulfilled; the princess was not in tears. Candanā was so distressed at the sight of Mahāvira departing that her eyes at once filled with tears. At that same moment Mahāvira looked back and, seeing Candană weeping held out his hands and accepted her offering. 57
The great news spread through Kaušāmbi: Śramana Mahāvira has broken his fast and the one who offered him alms is Princess Vasumati of Campā who had been sold in the market as a slave! King Śatānika and Queen Mrgāvati, struck with amazement, arrived at Dhanăvaha's house to find Candanã and take her to the palace, but Candanā refused. She recounted the terrible consequences of the sack of Campă, for her mother, herself and so many inhabitants. With firmness and clarity and in words imbued with the quiet dignity of her noble birth and faith in the dharna, she laid before the king his course of duty. She gave him the just and wise counsel the situation demanded, while, as regards all the suffering she herself had endured
56 Abhigraha: the acceptance of nourishment under certain conditions, a form of pratyākhyāna; cf. P 714
57 This oft depicted scene is sometimes found among the frescoes inside temples.
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