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## The Sixty-Sixth Chapter
223
Therefore, he said, "Embrace the path of liberation." From doubt about the purity of the ascetics' austerities, the ascetic asked, "Why are the austerities of the ascetics impure?"
The other one replied, "Come, I will show you the earth." After discussing this, they both assumed the forms of a male and female sparrow.
They took refuge in the long beard and mustache of Jamadagni Muni. After staying there for some time, the omniscient male sparrow, who knew illusion, spoke to the female sparrow, who was a devotee of astrology, "My dear, I will go to the other forest and return soon. Wait for me here."
The female sparrow replied, "I don't trust you. If you are going, then swear to me."
The male sparrow said, "What do you want from me? I will swear to you by any of the five sins."
The female sparrow said, "I don't want any of the five sins. Swear to me that if I don't return, I will attain the state of this ascetic."
"My dear, if you will give me this oath, I will let you go. Otherwise, I will not." Hearing this, the male sparrow said, "Leave that, tell me what else you want. I will swear by that."
Hearing this conversation between the male and female sparrow, the ascetic was filled with anger. His eyes rolled. He grabbed both the birds with his hands, intending to kill them. He said, "Why did you not desire the future world that I have attained through my arduous austerities?"
The male sparrow said, "Don't be angry. Your kindness will be lost by this anger. Is a little bit of buttermilk lost by a little bit of sour milk? Listen, what is the reason for your misfortune, even though you have been performing severe austerities for a long time?"
"You have been practicing celibacy since childhood. This is for the destruction of progeny. What is the fate of a man who destroys progeny, except hell?"
"Have you not heard the Vedic saying, 'There is no fate for a childless man'? Why are you suffering with such a dull mind without thinking?"
I have attained the excellent divine equivalent due to the right faith.