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the way. The mala was left at home. Now what to do? He collected pebbles from around, exactly 108 in number, so that he could chant the Mantra 108 times precisely. With every chanting he would place one pebble aside. Thus the Japa was over. But on completion a question struck in his mind :
"Shall I throw these pebbles away? How to do it? Now these pebbles are charmed by the Japa of the Parameshthi Mantra! Surely I cannot throw these away. Let me collect these and take them home, for, otherwise the pebbles will be trampled under some foot and will give rise to sin!"
With this thought in view, he collected 108 pebbles on one end of his dhoti and reached home. His wife gave water for him to bathe. He forgot to separate the pebbles. The wife saw the knot in his dhoti and opened to see what it was.
And There Was A Miracle!
The lady was simply spell-bound. She saw highly valuable shining jewels in place of the pebbles! She wondered:
"What is this? Whence these jewels! How and from where did her husband procure these? How did he bring? Has he swerved from Dharma?"
As soon as the husband came she asked these questions all at a time. The fist of his wife's hand was closed. She opened it and said: "Well my lord! Have you swerved from Dharma on seeing these jewels? How could this happen?"
The man was simply shocked. He was simply amazed that the pebbles were transformed into stones.
