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## Chapter 236: The Scattering of the Eager Refusal
Then, a well-wisher brought him ashes. The sage, taking them in his own arms, made a vow with a tearful eye. ||14||
Seeing this, the two companions were distressed and said, "Friend! Flee immediately, so that we may go to our destination." ||15||
He, being close to attaining perfection, thought, "This is a minor karma." How can I go home, having accepted the vow with my own words? ||16||
Even if spoken in jest, the words spoken by a wise man, how can they be otherwise, like letters carved in stone? ||17||
I have gained this vow through jest, therefore it must be protected. Who abandons a burning fire, when it has come close without effort? ||18||
Reflecting on the virtue of his intention, the wise man accepted it. Then, the two companions, filled with sorrow, went to their destination. ||19||
Then, the hero addressed the sage, "O Bhagavan! My companions will release me from the Shramanya vow, so I will go elsewhere." ||20||
"This great man, even if he goes in disguise, will be recognized by the Yajnas. Only we two are worthy of going." ||21||
The sage said, "If that is so, then look at the path. We will go as the night falls." He also looked at him and agreed. ||22||
Then, in the dead of night, the sage, accompanied by his new disciple, set out. The disciple was told by the guru to go ahead, and he went ahead. ||23||
Due to his old age, the sage stumbled and fell on a stone in the night. He was filled with pain and anger. ||24||
"Oh, wicked disciple! The right path is not to be deviated from," he said, and struck the disciple on the head with his staff, making him bleed. ||25||
Even though his head was split open and blood was flowing, the disciple did not speak or get angry, but instead thought, "These great souls are dwelling happily in their own path. I have been made a victim of suffering by my own foolishness!" ||26||
"Disciples are always a source of happiness for the guru, some are wise and virtuous. But I, from the very first day, have been a source of sorrow for my guru." ||27||
"May the guru not suffer further pain from stones or anything else. With effort, he thought, and slowly he moved." ||29||
Thus, the pure-hearted, equal-minded, great soul, while walking, attained Kevala Jnana in the night itself. ||30||
Then, when the morning dawned and the sun rose, the sage saw his disciple with a blood-stained head. ||31||
Then, the sage, with a peaceful mind and a calm heart, thought, "Oh! This new disciple has excellent patience." ||32||
"Even though he was struck with a staff in a fit of anger, he did not show any sign of anger or distress." ||33||
"Even an old practitioner, who knows the faults of anger, who has attained the position of an Acharya, is overcome by strong anger! How shameful!" ||34||
"This vow, which I have protected for so long with great difficulty, has become useless. It has been destroyed by my anger." ||35||
"By cultivating the right thoughts, he attained Kevala Jnana. Even a harsh guru can have disciples who are virtuous, humble, and worthy of respect." ||36||