________________
130
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
In the sixth birth Rupsena's soul was born as a deer. One day the royal couple proceeded on hunting expedition. The hunters played on their music to draw near the deer. That deer also approached Sunanda, and was shot dead by the king abruptly. It was brought in the royal guest house and was baked in fire for food.
When the king and the queen were enjoying the taste of the deer's meat, two omniscient monks happened to pass by the spot who nodded their heads. This excited the curiosity of the king and the queen who pressed the monks to disclose the reason of their nodding. The monks narrated the account of Rupsena's migration from birth to birth. Sunanda asked: "Where is he born hereafter? Would his soul be liberated ?" The monks said: "The deer after death is reborn as an elephant in Vindhya forest near Sugrāma. It will be englightened by your preachings. Then it will acquire knowledge of its previous births. It will thereupon cultivate aversion for wordly affairs, and will be again produced as God in the eighth heaven. From there it will be born as a human being to be emancipated at last".
Then the royal couple was initiated to monkhood along with other citizens. Nun Sunanda knew that the time of preaching the elephant had approached. Under the permission of her preceptor she stayed for the monsoon at Sugrām. After monsoon she proceeded to preach and enlighten the elephant.
The entire village was terrified at the disturbances created by this elephant. It killed many people and pulled down numerous houses. People were scared away at the sight of this elephant. Nun Sunanda proceeded towards the camping of the elephant. The villagers very much tried to dissuade her from her resolve, but she proceeded fearlessly. The elephant came from the thickets and rushed in the face of Sunanda. She stood firm and the elephant was calmed down, no sooner he saw her. Impressions of the previous births are very powerful. The elephant expressed his love for the nun.
Sunanda said : "Still, attachment does not leave you? You died for my cause consecutively in six lives. Therefore now cast off passion from thy heart”. On hearing these words the elephant became very quiet. It acquired the knowledge of the
