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The Unique Traveller on the Path of Renunciation
155
Minister, the guard was astonished. Seeing his unexpected arrival, he felt eager to know what might happen.
"Dear Sir, you please wait here a little. I will bring my chief".
Within a short time, the guard returned with his Chief. The officer received the Chief Minister respectfully and led him to • the tent of the king of Ayodhya. The guard who was standing at the entrance of the tent moved back. The Chief Minister entered the tent.
"Dear Chief Minister! You are most welcome. Please come in", said Simharath and requested him to be seated in a seat of state.
"What may be the purpose of your honoured visit to us ?" The Chief Minister of Ayodhya who was present in the tent asked him politely.
"Your excellency! I have come to convey to you a message of the king Mahapur”.
The Chief Minister looked around. There was no one in the tent except the king and himself. Looking towards the king, the Chief Minister of Mahapur said;
"Oh king! Our king desires that instead of a war which causes the massacre of countless people on both sides it is better if he and you fight a duel".
"Then is the king of Mahapur terrified by the vast army of Ayodhya. Is he already vanquished ?" Simharath said sarcastically.
"No, that is not true. Would king Sodas fear any enemy?
In fact, there is no one in this world who can vanquish him. He is capable of vanquishing the greatest heroes of the world. Yet his message is this, “We are both carrying on the lofty traditions set up by Bhagwan Rishabhdev. We are the flowers of his noble line. Therefore, it is not proper on our part to cause the death of countless others for the attainment of our
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