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Seventh Study: Sakdalputra
[179 Just as a skilled physician is needed for a suitable cure, so too is a skilled person needed to provide religious health. Agni Mitra was such a skilled 'Dharma Vaidya'.
From a wife to her husband, service, love, affection - all these are attainable, but when needed, religious inspiration, spiritual enthusiasm, the support of practice can be obtained, this is a unique thing. Very few wives will be able to re-energize the drying religious source in their husband's life. Agni Mitra had this wonderful quality. Therefore, the epithet 'Dharma-Vaidya' used for her is very meaningful. This is the reason why Sakdalputra, who remains unshaken and unmoved at the time of the merciless, cruel murder of his three sons, trembles at the news of Agni Mitra's murder, loses his composure, becomes agitated. Perhaps it occurred to Sakdalputra - Agni Mitra, who is not only the sole companion of my religious life, but also the unparalleled inspirer who has made me righteous by removing the religious weaknesses that come to me, will be given such a tragic end? This will cast a deep darkness on my future life.
228. Therefore, when the Dev said this to the Shramanopasak Sakdalputra, he remained in meditation.
Even after being told this by the Dev, Sakdalputra remained fearless and engaged in Dharma-Dhyana.
229. Then that Dev, again and again, said the same thing to the Shramanopasak Sakdalputra - "O! Sakdalputra! Shramanopasaya! I say this to you."
_Then that Dev, again and again, said the same thing to the Shramanopasak Sakdalputra. Inner Purity Worship: End
230. Then, when that Dev said this to the Shramanopasak Sakdalputra, he was in meditation, and this thought arose in his mind - "Just as the potter thinks, 'My eldest son, my middle son, my youngest son, all of them are coming, and even my wife Agni Mitra, who shares my joys and sorrows, she also wants to take me away from this house, and my head will be cut off.' So, this is what I have to do to this man." He thought with a bitter heart. Just as the potter thinks, so should everything be said. When Agni Mitra, his wife, heard the commotion, she said, "The rest is as the potter would say, and when the red-colored chariot is ready, it will be taken to the Mahavideha." (Four similes are established in this chapter)
1. See Sutra number 98. 2. See Sutra number 136.