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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
leisure. We know that idle mind is the devils' workshop. An idle mind entertains many evil thoughts and thus proves itself detrimental to others as well as to its veryself.
The merchant's wife used to wander and keep late hours at night. She was dominating by nature and thus could never be suppressed by her husband. Ouarrels would not help as the same would degrade them in the society. She was highly persuaded in vain by her husband not to keep late hours. One night the merchant having bolted fast the doors from within, slept in the house. His wife returned late and found the doors bolted fast from within. She decided to teach a lesson to the merchant and so she cried aloud, “Open the doors.” The merchant refused to open unless she agreed in writing not to wander till late at night. She would certainly not agree to such condition. The merchant also would not give way. Thereupon she threatened that she would commit suicide but would not give anything in writing. Then she proceeded towards the well. Through the hole the merchant observed her proceeding towards the well and became nervous.
The merchant's wife lifted a heavy stone and dropped it in the well. The merchant thought that she fell into the well when he heard the thundering sound of the stone. He opened the doors and ran towards the well.
But the merchant's wife had already returned and concealed herself near the doors. She crept into the house and closed fast the doors. The merchant was shocked and surprised to hear the noise when she closed the doors. Now he requested her to open the doors, but she said, "Why do you wander late at night ? Give me in writing that henceforth you shall not keep late hours at night."
The culprit now become the complainant. The merchant requested her with a low voice but she retorted in a frantic voice. Then the merchant deeply disgusted with life said, “You pretended to commit suicide, but I would really kill myself."
She at once ran after him and brought him back to the house. Still she requested him to give in writing that he would not wander till late at night. To avoid quarrels despite his innocence he gave in writing on a piece of paper. This incident made her deeply repent. She begged his pardon for all what she did and for harassing him. Then both of them approached their preceptor and took
