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INTRODUCTION.
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ing confession, by some one appointed for the purpose, while all the rest of the Sages sat in the attitude of devout listeners*. This was the ancient practice, but it has been superseded by a somewhat different ritual since the nine hundred and eightieth year of the era of Mahávírat. At that time, at Anandapura, now called Bádnagar, lived King Dhruvasenat. He had a dearly beloved son named Senágaja, who by divine decree died that year at the commencement of the Paryushana. The king was overwhelmed with grief, and no more came to the place where the Sages lived to pay his l'espects; and, according to the saying, “As is the king so are the subjectss,” the bankers and merchants, and others, failed in their attendance, and occasioned great detriment to religion. Perceiving this, the Religious Director went to the King Dhruvasena, and said, “O king, through your indulgence in grief the whole city and all the country around is overwhelmed with sorrow. Remember, however, O king, that life is fleeting, and the world insipid. It is not proper for a king like you, instructed in the Jain religion, to indulge any
* The original is GetHIf a technical word among the Jains.
* B. C. 453 or 411. See Preface. | See Preface. This city is probably the same as Balabhi.
यथा राजा तथा प्रजाः
