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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
127
These words clarified the lion's misapprehension. He began to look upon himself as a lion. He accompanied that lion and started leading the life of a lion.
Thus you all have remained in the company of your physical self and other material entities and that is why you presume yourself as the physical self, and you estimate your power as very much limited. But mind, the material and the physical body do not constitute your Self. You are the soul with infinite powers and with this conviction in your mind let your faculties be developed. To achieve such development remain far from passions and other attachments. Those who hanker after sensual objects meet with the fate as met with by Rupasena.
RUPASENA
The benevolent King Kanakadhvaja of the City Pruthvibhushana had a beautiful daughter named Sunanda. She had almost attained the prime of youth, and her beauty was getting full-fledged like the morning lotus. One day she was observing the movements in the City from the lobby of the palace. Just then she saw a man beating his wife inercilessly just in the opposite house. She fell at the man's feet and said: "Lord, I shall not commit the fault any more". Still the man continued hammering her. On seeing this sight Sunanda quivered. She reflected: "If such tortures and slavery are to be tolerated in married life, I would prefer not to marry".
Sunanda was a graceful young and charming woman. So there were many offers for her marriage from different countries. But when the parents inquired, she replied: "I do not desire to marry”.
The parents thought; “Is she interested in renouncing the worldly attachments as she refuses to marry !” But there was no suggestion also to that effect.
Now Vasudatta, a wealthy merchant had four sons. One of them, Rupsena was the youngest. All were fond of the youngest child and generally he was entrusted with lesser burden of work and responsibility. So Rupsena at his sweet will roamed in the parks and passed his days joyfully. He came to a betel-vendor's shop, in front of the palace when he was observed by Sunanda. He was much delighted to see her. In the meanwhile, she conveyed
