..续本文上一页oked over the oceans. Then she was the golden prince struggling in the emerald sea after seven days and seven nights of swimming. She thought, "If I let this Prince Fruitful die in the ocean, I will no longer be welcome in the company of the gods. For truly, he is the Enlightenment Being!"

　　So she took on a form of splendour and beauty, and floated in the air near him. Wishing to learn Truth from him, she asked, "Without seeing the shore of the ocean, why are you trying to reach the ocean”s end

　　"

　　Hearing those words the prince thought, "For the seven days I”ve been swimming, I have met no one who can this be

　　" When he saw the goddess above him he said, "Oh lovely goddess, I know that effort is the way of the world. So as long as I am in this world, I will try and try, even in mid-ocean with no shore to be seen."

　　Wishing to learn more from him, she tested him by saying, "This vast ocean stretches much farther than you can see, without reaching a shore. Your effort is useless - for here you must die!"

　　The prince replied "Dear goddess, how can effort be useless

　　 For he who never gives p trying cannot be blamed, either by his relatives here below or by the gods above. So he has no regrets. No matter how impossible it seems, if he stops trying h causes his own downfall!”

　　Pleased with his answers, the protecting goddess tested him one last time. She asked, "Why do you continue, when there really is no reward to be gained except pain and death

　　"

　　He answered her again, like a teacher to a pupil, "It is the way of the world that people make plans and try to reach their goals. The plans ma succeed for fail - only time will tell - but the value is in the effort itself in the present moment.

　　"And besides, oh goddess, can”t you see that my actions have already brought results

　　 My shipmates only prayed and they are dead! But I have been swimming for seven days and seven nights - and low and behold

　　here you are, floating above me! So I will swim with all my might, even across the whole ocean, to reach the shore. While I have an ounce of strength I”ll try and try again."

　　Completely satisfied, the ocean goddess who protects the good said, "You who bravely fight the mighty ocean against hopeless odds, you who refuse to run from the task before you,` go wherever your heart desires! For you have my protection and no one can stop you. Just tell me where I may carry you to."

　　The prince told her he wished to go to Mithila. The goddess gently lifted him like a bouquet of flowers and laid him on her chest, Like a loving mother with a newborn babe. Then she flew through the air, while the Enlightenment Being slept, cradled against her heavenly body.

　　Arriving at Mithila, she laid him on a sacred stone in a garden of mangoes, and told the garden goddesses to watch over him. Then the protector goddess of the oceans returned to her heaven world home.

　　The dead King Poorfruit had left behind only a daughter, no sons. She was well educated and wise, and her name was Princess Sivali.

　　When the king was dying, the ministers asked him, "Who will be the next king

　　" King Poorfruit said, "Whoever can satisfy my daughter Sivali; whoever recognises the head of the royal square bed; whoever can string the bow that only a thousand men can string; or whoever can find the 16 hidden treasures."

　　After the funeral of the king, the ministers began searching for a new king. First they looked for one who could satisfy the princess. They called for the General of the Army.

　　Princess Sivali wished to test him, so Mithila could be ruled by a strong leader. She told him to come to her. Immediately he ran up the royal staircase. She said, "To prove your strength, run back and forth in the palace." Thinking only of pleasing her, the general ran back and forth until she motio…

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