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## VipakShrut- Ang-11 - ShrutSkandh-1, Chapter-3
**The Congregation of King Mahabah and the Grai**
Then, at some point in time, bandit-chief Vijaya died.
On his death, young Abhagnasen, crying, weeping, and wailing, performed the cremation rites of bandit-chief Vijaya with honour, respect, and great pomp and show in the presence of five hundred bandits. He also performed the worldly last rites for his deceased father, including charity and offering food. As time passed, he emerged out of the grief of the loss of his father.
Some time later, those five hundred bandits ceremoniously conferred the title and position of bandit-chief on Abhagnasen. On being appointed bandit-chief, Abhagnasen commenced extorting from people the taxes due to the king.
Tortured and tormented by the destruction of many villages by bandit-chief Abhagnasen, the people called a meeting and deliberated:
"Beloved of gods! Bandit-chief Abhagnasen is destroying many villages north of Purimtal City and making them destitute by looting their wealth and grains. Therefore, O beloved of gods! We should give this information to king Mahabal of Purimtal City."
After these deliberations, the congregation of citizens accepted this proposal. They collected impressive (maharth) and valuable gifts suitable for a king and went into Purimtal City where king Mahabal resided. Touching their foreheads with joined palms (a gesture of offering respect), they presented the valuable gifts to the king. After that, they submitted:
"O lord! Bandit-chief Abhagnasen of Shalatavi hideout is plundering villages and cities, depriving us of our wealth and making us poor. Sire! We wish to live happily, fearlessly, and free from troubles in the protection and shelter of your arms." With these words, those citizens emphasized their plight by joining their palms and falling at king Mahabal's feet.
Listening to the said details from those citizens, king Mahabal got angry... and so on up to... red with rage. Gnashing his teeth in rage and raising his eyebrows (in other words, becoming an embodiment of anger), he called the police chief and said: "Beloved of gods! Go, raid that Shalatavi hideout, destroy it, and after capturing that bandit-chief Abhagnasen alive, present him before me."
The police chief humbly accepted this order by king Mahabal. Then he tightly strapped iron armours with sharp projections. He decided to take along many soldiers equipped with hand-wielding and launchable weapons and shields tied to their hands and pass through the middle of Purimtal city blowing Kshipraturya trumpets, filling the sky with tremendous tumult matching the thunder of the sea. He resolved to cross the city thus and go to that Shalatavi hideout of bandits.
At that time, the spies of bandit-chief Abhagnasen came to know of this development. They approached bandit-chief Abhagnasen of Shalatavi hideout; touched their foreheads with joined palms, and submitted—"Beloved of gods! In Purimtal city, king Mahabal has called the police chief and brave soldiers and given this order - 'Beloved of gods! Go, raid that Shalatavi hideout, destroy it, and present before me that bandit-chief Abhagnasen after capturing him alive.' Accepting the order of the king, the police chief has left for Shalatavi hideout along with many brave soldiers."
On hearing the news given by his spies, bandit-chief Abhagnasen called five hundred bandits of his gang and said: "On getting the order from king Mahabal, the police chief of...
**Aagam - 11 - Vipak-Shrut**
**Compiled by - Deepratnasagar**
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