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The Story of Muladeva
Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verse 72 | This should be given as a certificate of artistry. And the best among the dancers should be given a flag as a certificate. | The king also started giving accordingly. On this, Devadatta said - 'This is my guru. I will only accept the certificate etc. | if I have their permission.' The king also said - 'O blessed one! Instead of taking permission from him, give him permission.' The cunning Muladeva | said - 'Maharaja, as you are ordering, do so.' At that time, the cunning king played the veena in such an attractive way, as if | he was another celestial musician. Seeing this, Vimalsingh said - Dev! This must be Muladeva in disguise. Such | art cannot be in anyone else except Muladeva. Surely this is the same, it seems.' The king | said to Dhurtaraj, aiming at him - If this is the case, then he should reveal himself. I am eager to see Muladeva, who is like a gem. Muladeva immediately took out a magical pill from his mouth. From this, he appeared in his true form, coming out of the clouds | like the moon, extremely radiant. 'Now it is known that you are a complete artist.' Saying this | Vimalsingh embraced Dhurtasingh. Thereafter, Muladeva bowed to the king. The king also happily | honored him. Devadatta, who was devoted to Muladeva like Urvashi with Puruvar, was also spending her life with him, experiencing worldly pleasures. But Muladeva could not live without gambling. Due to destiny, even in a person of excellent qualities, some defect remains. Devadatta humbly requested him - 'Praneshwar! You should give up gambling.' But even after much persuasion, Muladeva could not give up that vice. It is true, it is very difficult to give up one's nature.
In the same city, there lived a wealthy merchant named Achal, who was like Dhanakuber and in appearance like Kamadeva himself; he loved Devadatta before Muladeva; and he enjoyed pleasures with her. He was jealous of Muladeva | and wanted to harass him by finding fault on some pretext or the other. Muladeva got wind of this. He also used to go to his house on some pretext or the other. The passion of passionate men does not usually subside even when they are overpowered by passion. One | day, Devadatta's mother said to her - 'Daughter! What is left with this poor gambler Muladeva? Stop loving him. Have a firm affection like Rambha for this wealthy merchant Achal, who gives you money every day.' Devadatta said - 'Mother! I am not only a lover of wealth, but I am a lover of qualities.' On this, the mother said angrily - 'Well, can there be any qualities in this gambler? Think right.' Devadatta said - Why are there no qualities in him? He is patient, generous, | sweet-tongued. He is an expert in many arts and sciences, he is a lover of qualities, he is a connoisseur of qualities himself, so how can I leave his shelter? I will not be able to give him up.' From then on, the cunning mother, proficient in the art of deception, started trying various ways to break her daughter's affection for Muladeva. When Devadatta asked for a garland of flowers for him, she would give her a garland of withered, stale flowers, when she asked for sherbet, she would pick up a bottle of colored water and give it to her, when she asked for a piece of sugarcane | she would give her a dull piece of bamboo; when she asked for sandalwood, she would give her a piece of kadamba. And on top of that, she would explain to her - 'Daughter! Don't be offended by what I am doing. As the dev (yaksha) is, so is the bali (offering) given to him. Just as a vine lives in great sorrow by taking shelter of a thorny tree, why are you taking shelter of him? In my | opinion, you should completely abandon the unworthy Muladeva. On this, Devadatta said angrily - 'Without even examining | who is worthy and who is unworthy?' The mother also said in an excited voice - 'Then why don't you test them?' | Devadatta happily ordered her maid to tell Achal - 'Today Devadatta wants to eat sugarcane, | so send sugarcane.' When the maid went and told the merchant Achal, he considered himself blessed and sent a cart full of sugarcane. Seeing the cart, the happy Kuttinini said to her daughter Devadatta - 'Look daughter! Achal is as generous as a Chintamani and gives the desired fruit. Think about it a little.' The dejected Devadatta said to her mother - Am I an elephant that a whole cart of sugarcane has been brought here for me to eat, including the root and leaves. Now you also ask Muladeva to send sugarcane for eating. Then you will know what the difference is between the two
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