[1140] After a considerable time
he reached the city of Baranasi, and saw Tuladhara engaged in selling
miscellaneous articles.[1141] As soon as the shop-keeper Tuladhara beheld
the Brahmana arrived at his place, he cheerfully stood up and worshipped
the guest with proper salutations.[1142]
"Tuladhara said, 'Without doubt, O Brahmana, it is known to me that thou
hast come to _me_. Listen, however, O foremost of regenerate persons, to
what I say. Living on a low land near the sea-shore thou underwentest
very austere penances. But thou hadst no consciousness of having achieved
righteousness or merit. When thou didst at last attain to ascetic
success, certain birds were born on thy head. Thou tookest great care of
the little creatures. When at last those birds became equipped with wings
and when they began to leave thy head for going hither and thither in
search of food, it was then that, in consequence of having thus assisted
at the birth of those Chatakas, thou begannest to feel the impulse of
pride, O Brahmana, thinking thou hadst achieved great merit.[1143] Then,
O foremost of regenerate persons, thou heardest in the sky a voice that
referred to me. The words thou didst hear filled thee with wrath, and as
the consequence thereof thou art here. Tell me, what wish of thine I
shall accomplish, O best of Brahmanas!'"
SECTION CCLXII
"Bhishma said, 'Thus addressed by the intelligent Tuladhara on that
occasion, Jajali of great intelligence, that foremost of ascetics, said
these words unto him.
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