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APRIL, 1971
To the royal Seer who had reached the excellent stage of pravrajyä, Sakra (king of gods) in the guise of a Brahmana addressed the following words :
"Why is now Mithila full of uproar? Dreadful noises are heard from palaces and houses."
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On hearing this, the royal Seer Nami answered:
"In Mithila is the sacred tree Manorama, full of leaves, flowers and fruits, which sheds a cool shadow; this tree is always a favourite resort of many birds.
"Now, as this sacred tree Manorama is shaken by the strom, the birds, suffering, destitute of refuge, and miserable, scream aloud."
Sakra said:
"This is fire and strom, your palace is on fire. do you not look after your seraglio ?"
Nami answered:
"Happy are we, happy live we who call nothing our own; when Mithila is on fire, nothing is burned that belongs to me.
"To a monk who has left his sons and wives, and who has ceased to act, nothing pleasant can occur, nor anything unpleasant.
"There is much happiness for the sage, for the houseless monk, who is free from all ties, and knows himself to be single and unconnected (with the rest of the world.)"
Sakra said:
Nami answered:
Reverend Sir, why
"Erect a wall, gates, and battlements; dig a moat; construct sataghnis: then you will be a Ksatriya."
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"Making Faith his fortress, Penance and Self-control the bolt (of its gate), Patience its strong wall, so that guarded in three ways it is impregnable; making Zeal his bow, its string Carefulness in walking
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