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Chapter-2: Collection of Examples
23, 63. The story of the Muni named Chitra Sambhuta, included in the Trishatisalaaka Purusha Charitra, about the cause of his birth. In Varanasi, there were two sons of the elephant-lord, named Bhutdatta, who was very wealthy. ||1||
These two, named Chitra Sambhuta, were very affectionate towards each other. They were never separated, bound together like nails and flesh. ||2||
At that time, in Varanasi, there was a king named Shankha. He had a famous minister named Namuchi. ||3||
One day, the king, in a fit of anger, ordered Namuchi to secretly kill Bhutdatta. ||4||
Namuchi secretly said to him, "I will protect you as if you were my own son. You should stay in my house and I will teach your sons." ||5||
Namuchi accepted the elephant-lord's words. People live to survive, and they will do anything to do so. ||6||
Namuchi taught the two Chitra Sambhuta various arts. He was very fond of them and also of the elephant-lord's wife. ||7||
Bhutdatta came to know about this and wanted to kill Namuchi. Who can tolerate a rival in their own wife? ||8||
The elephant-lord's sons came to know about this and sent Namuchi away. They gave him a gift as a reward for saving his life. ||9||
Namuchi then went to Hastinapur. He became the minister of Sanatkumara, the king of Hastinapur. ||10||
Meanwhile, the two Chitra Sambhuta, now young men, came to the earth from somewhere, like the Ashvins. ||11||
They sang sweet songs, making a lot of noise and laughter. They played the vina like the great Narada. ||12||
The Kinnaras were delighted by their playing, which was accompanied by seven distinct musical notes. ||13||
They played the Mrujanga, a drum that makes a loud sound, and danced, holding the skull of a dead elephant, a symbol of mockery. ||14||
They performed the dance of Shiva, the dance of Urvashi, the dance of Rambha, and the dance of Uttara. They performed all the dances that were not known before. ||15||
They were masters of all the arts of music and dance, and their performance was unprecedented. No one's mind could remain unaffected by their performance. ||16||
One day, there was a festival of Madan in the city. The people of the city were enjoying the music and dance. ||17||
The Chitra Sambhuta also went to the festival. The people of the city were attracted by their music and followed them like deer. ||18||
Someone told the king about the elephant-lord's sons. The king was angry because they had attracted everyone with their music and made them forget everything else. ||19||
The king's minister also told the king that the Chitra Sambhuta should not be allowed to enter the city. ||20||
From that day onwards, the Chitra Sambhuta stayed away from Varanasi. One day, there was a great festival of Kaumudi in Varanasi. ||21||
The Chitra Sambhuta, ignoring the king's order and driven by their lust, entered the city like bees entering a lotus flower. ||22||
They watched the festival, their bodies covered in dust. They wandered through the city like thieves, hiding themselves. ||23||