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J, 31.
MAHASENA THE GOD.
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ablaze, the tender grain became ripe in a moment, and there was a great rain (in the time of drought). And the venerable Rohana went to that house for alms for seven years and ten months from the day of Mahasena's re-incarnation, but never once did he receive so much as a spoonful of boiled rice, or a ladleful of sour gruel, or a greeting, or a stretching forth of the joined hands, or any sort of salutation. Nay rather it was insults and taunts that fell to his share: and there was no one who so much as said, Be so good, Sir, as to go on to the next house 1.'
But when all that period had gone by he one day happened to have those very words addressed to him. And on that day the Brahman, on his way back from his work in the fields, [9] saw the Elder as he met him on his return, and said : Well, hermit, have you been to our place ?'
Yes, Brahman, I have.' * But did you get anything there ?' • Yes, Brahman, I did.'
And he was displeased at this, and went on home, and asked them : 'Did you give anything to that hermit ?'
We gave him nothing,' was the reply.
21. Thereupon the Brahman, the next day, seated himself right in the doorway, thinking to himself : *To-day I'll put that hermit to shame for having told a lie.' And the moment that the Elder in due course came up to the house again, he said : Yesterday you said you had got something at my house, having
1 This is the ordinary polite formula used by an Indian peasant when he wishes to express his inability (or his disinclination) to give food to a mendicant friar.
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