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stood at our door. The Sresthi did not care to observe him, still less to receive him, but remained busy with his food. When I saw this, I said to the monk, 'Bhante! My father-in-law is not keen to earn fresh merit in this body; he wants to live on his past acquisitions'. Please tell me, considering the situation, if I committed a crime in saying like this".
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The elders found Visakha innocent on this count. They said, "This is no crime. Our daughter has pointed at a right thing".
Changing the topic, the Śreṣṭhi came out,
"During her first night at my house, this girl, without caring for my son, went out, I know not where. Was it worthy of a freshly wed bride"?
The elders turned to Visakha to receive her explanation about the charge. Visakhā said,
"I did not go to any undesirable place. In this very house, a mare was suffering acutely from labour pain which I could not just overlook. So with torches and with attendant maids, I went to the stable to help the mare to deliver safely".
On hearing this, the elders gave the following verdict,
"Arya! Our daughter served as a midwife to your mare which, we suppose, not even the maid-servants in your household would attend. We see nothing wrong in this".
But Sresthi Mrgara was blind with rage. He said,
"In your view, gentlemen, this has been an act of merit, But let me cite another instance. When she was to depart from her father's home, her father said to her, 'Do not take fire out from inside the home'. When there are good neighbours on both the flanks of our home, is it honestly possible to practise this precept"?.
