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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
49
sauce and spiritual-pleasures are like sweetmeats, as compared in the following illustration.
A TRADER AND A JATA
A trader from Marwar set out in the morning for the place of his father-in-law situated five miles away; at about 10 a.m. He covered about two and half miles. The sun was scorchingly hot above head and the sand under the feet grew red hot. In this desert there was no other tree except small plants like Ankada and Kerada. The Ankada shade subsided in the tree itself. The trader was much non-plussed as to how he should proceed further. Meanwhile, he saw a cart following up. As he was much tired he asked “Would you mind giving me a lift?” The Jata (cart-driver) replied, “Of course, but what would you pay ?” The trader said, "What do you wish ?” The Jata said, "Some nice supper.” The trader agreed but Jata insisted on Jaggery sauce and not the ordinary rice and curds preparation.
Now Jaggery sauce is a poor man's dish and a son-in-law is mostly respected with sweetmeats. Therefore, the trader said, he would offer him something still better than Jaggery sauce. But Jata insisted on Jaggery sauce as to his belief there could be nothing better than that. Anyhow the trader realised the critical time and he agreed.
Both arrived at the destination and were respected with showers of baths, flowers and new clothes. But the Jata was very uneasy, He was anxious for Jaggery sauce but kept himself silent. Best of the dishes with rich eatables were served but Jaggery sauce was missing. The trader made signs to Jata to proceed with eating but Jata inquired for Jaggery sauce. The trader told him to wait but Jata was much irritated and was about to attack the trader as he had infringed the condition agreed upon. The trader knew well that Jata was unaware of the delicious taste of sweetmeats and that is why he was growing so obstinate for Jaggery sauce. He at once caught the Jata by the neck and thrust a piece of sweet meat into his mouth. No sooner did the tongue touch the sweetmeat than he started relishing the sweetmeat and he at once finished the bulk before him in the dish. He even finished much more that was served to him. Now that Jata was very