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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
a message through very clever maid-servant that he should daily come over there and show his face. - Rupsena liked and accepted the proposal. He regularly visited the place. Since then, Rupsena and Sunanda had no worries. Both were fully engrossed in their daily affairs, and were passing the days happliy. Now they felt disgusted with all the conforts as both were anxious to meet each other. Rupsena captivated Sunanda's heart. They were undergoing tortures as deep attachment prevailed between them. This is the reason why the authors of the sacred scriptures have declared attachment as the root of all miseries.
The days passed on and both entertained acute yearnings to meet. In the meantime, the King proclaimed : "Full-moon festival is approaching and all the citizens should participate in the festival arranged at a place beyond the borders of the city”.
Sunanda thought she would be able to meet Rupsena on this occasion. So she sent a word to Rupsena that he should stay home with some pretext and at a particular time he should come to the rear part of the palace. There a rope on staircase would be kept ready for him.
On the festival day Sunanda stayed honne under the pretext of headache and Rupsena stayed home under the pretext of stomachache. They were eagerly waiting for the night when they would meet each other.
Now one gambler having lost in gambling incurred heavy losses. The winners demanded money from him and threatened him with murder. That person requested them to be good enough to wait for only one day. He said he would even steal and pay off. The winner in gabling granted him the time for a day. Now the gambler was wandering at night planning for the commission of theft.
All the citizens had left to enjoy the festival, so there was strict police "Bandobust" in the city. Now the gambler with an intention to commit theft in the palace arrived at the rear portion of the palace. He found the rope-staircase hanging from the lobby of the palace. He waved it little to test whether it was fastened tight. The maid servants of Sunanda at once deciphered that Rupsena arrived, as waving the staircase was previously fixed up as a secret sign of Rupsena's arrival. Sunanda was informed that Rupsena arrived. Sunanda at once ordered that he
