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JAINA STORIES
"Sir, I confirm that you are the foremost among the people who are well known for their steadfastness. Men like you alone justify the epithet of the Mother Earth as being the mother of heroes. My real name is Chandra Sekhara While in heaven, I had heard about your stead-fastness. The heavenly surgeon Harinegamesi, one day, extolled you so high as to suggest that you would not accept even a kingdom to uphold your vow. So I came down to hold the test, and, I must candidly admit, your performance excels all expectation. Pleased as I am with you, I request you now to seek a boon.
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With his usual detachment, Ratnasar said,
"Divine sire! By the grace of spiritual power, I have all I need. I want nothing. But if you so please, I suggest, you fix yourself in religion."
The god now restored the parrot to Ratnasar and shifted the two to their own city. Then he took leave and disappeared
We now reach a happy end to Ratnasar story. The story of his steadfastness reached far and wide, and men, even monarchs, organised receptions for him and held him in the highest esteem Many years passed since he had left his parental home on the back of his father's steed. So Ratnasar's mind moved thither. Therefore, in the company of his two wives, Tilakamanjarı and Asokamanjarı, he came back to his own city, where a reception was held in his honour by the king.
Such a worthy man throughout his life, Ratnasar could not but pass his old age still more worthily. Once Dharma Suri, the master of all knowledge save the kevala jnana, had come there, and Ratnasar came to pay his obeisance and homage to him Even King Samar Singha had come. Now, on a query by the king himself as to the pious karma in previous births, by dint of which Ratnasar came to command so much prestige and fame, the learned sage gave the following account, which is the subject-matter of the next story.
