History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c11.s6.1

c11.s6.1

Jinadāsa’s *cūrṇi* to the *Āvaśyaka Sūtra* contains a full account of Mahāvīra’s early career, in the course of which are described the journeys which he made in the company of Gosāla. The author repeats the account of Gosāla’s birth and early life, as given in the *Bhagavatī*.⁷ He tells the story of the meeting of the two ascetics, and adds a significant incident which is said to have taken place just before Mahāvīra’s final acceptance of Gosāla as his associate.¹ Gosāla, about to go on a begging expedition, asked Mahāvīra what alms he would receive that day. The latter ² replied that, besides the usual alms of food, he would be given a counterfeit coin. The prophecy was fulfilled, and thus Gosāla decided that what was to be could not be otherwise.³