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The Story of Sulas
In the second chapter of the Yoga Shastra, verse 30, it is stated that a second image is established. The king accepted the minister's suggestion and replaced Seduk with his son. Seduk now stayed at home, surrounded by flies like bees around a honeycomb. His sons built a hut outside the house and kept Seduk there. No one listened to him or followed his instructions. He was even fed in a wooden bowl like a dog. His daughters-in-law despised him, turning their faces away and wrinkling their noses when feeding him. Seeing this, the petty Seduk thought, "I made these sons wealthy, but today they have disregarded me and abandoned me like a traveler leaves his boat after crossing the sea. They don't even fulfill their promises. Instead, they taunt and mock me with inappropriate words like 'leper,' 'angry,' 'dissatisfied,' 'unworthy,' etc. Just as they despise me, they should become objects of hatred too." An idea suddenly struck him, and he was secretly pleased. He called his sons and said, "Sons, I am tired of this life. Our family tradition is that when someone wishes to die, their family brings them a magical animal. So, bring me an animal." Hearing this, they all agreed, and the sons, who were all wise in animal matters, brought their father a beast. Seduk, happy, took the pus oozing from his body and mixed it with the animal's food, feeding it to the beast. The animal, eating the pus-laced food, also became a leper. Seduk then gave the animal to his sons for sacrifice (slaughter). Not understanding their father's intention, the innocent sons killed the animal one day and ate its flesh. Meanwhile, Seduk told his sons, "I am going to a holy place for self-improvement. The forest is now my refuge." With a haughty air and a thoughtful expression, he set off. While walking through the jungle, he became very thirsty. Searching for water, he saw a lake, a friend-like body of water surrounded by various trees. The lake's water was tasteless due to fallen leaves, flowers, and fruits from the trees, and it was as hot as a decoction due to the midday sun's scorching rays. He drank the hot water. As he drank, his thirst increased. Every time he drank this hot water, he had diarrhea, and worms came out of his body. In this way, drinking the lake's water daily and passing worms with his excrement, Seduk was cured of his illness within a few days. His entire body became beautiful, like a tree in spring, beautiful in all its parts. Delighted with his recovery, the Brahmin set off for home. A beautiful body is a special adornment for all men in their birthplace.
When Seduk entered his city, the citizens were amazed to see him cured and beautiful, like a snake with a jeweled hood. They asked, "O learned Brahmin! Seeing your healthy body and beautiful form, it seems you have been reborn! What caused you to become healthy and beautiful?" The Brahmin said, "I worshipped the gods, and that is how I was cured." He then reached his home. Seeing his sons as lepers, he was delighted and said, "You disobeyed me, and you have received the fruits of your actions." His sons said, "Father, we trusted you, but why did you act so cruelly towards us, like an enemy?" Hearing this, Seduk was silent. The boys did not give him any respect, nor did anyone else. He became despised and without refuge.
After telling this entire story, Lord Mahavira continued, "O King Shrenik! That wandering Seduk came to your city and met your palace guards. When the guards heard that I was in Rajgriha, they were delighted and, to hear my Dharmadeshana, they left the Brahmin at his post and came to me. Thus, Seduk, like the door to livelihood, received the shelter of the guards. He sat hungry and thirsty at the gate. At that moment, seeing the birds eating the offered sacrifice at the gate, he pounced on it like a hungry wolf. Leprosy...