A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.99

v2.c32.99

"A rich Brahmin of the Vidarbha country to whom no son had been born for many years, once saw in a vision, that if he gave alms to, and entertained one hundred Brahmins, he could get a son. Accordingly he made offerings and prayers to the God and entertained one hundred Brahmins. After ten months his wife gave birth to a son. The rich man invited learned astrologers to predict the fortunes of his child; but they found that it could not live more than a week. In all other respects the child was calculated to be fortunate......... The astrologers assured them (his parents) that if they entertained one hundred Bhikshus, it would live seven years, beyond which its life could not be prolonged by any means whatever. When the seventh year was about to expire the parents were overwhelmed with grief. To avoid the painful sight of their son’s predicted death, they caused him to be removed to a certain solitary place in company with a few retainers.