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186
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
Chilatiputra would only be pleased when he saw Sushuma and played with her. In his heart she was his very life. Now the merchant disgusted some how, with Chilatiputra, dismissed him from his service. He left the place but his attachment was deeply
rooted in Sushuma.
His mind found no ease and rest at other places where he served, and he began to play gambling, the hot-bed of many vices like stealing, drinking liquor and having access to prostitutes. Chilatiputra become notoriously perfect in these vices. With good family patronage, and cultured elders, this would never happen but Chilatiputra had nothing of the sort. He also lost his mother, the only dear and near one.
Sometime, Chilatiputra was arrested on the charge of theft and was banished from the city. He left the city and wandered helpless and homeless, in desolate forests. Thereafter he came across a band of thieves and robbers, and he was esteemed by the head due to his audacity, cruelty and fierce nature. On the demise of the leader he was substituted in his place. Now, his main activities were stealing, robbing with dacoities.
One day well-equipped, he made depredation in Rajagruhi city, where merchant Dhanya's house was attacked. The robbers took hold of good deal of properties from the merchant's abode. Chilatiputra's mind was green with memories of Sushuma, so having hunted her out Chilatiputra kidnapped her and absconded with his accomplices.
The merchant, realising that his beloved daughter was also missing along with his huge property persued the robbers along with some soldiers. Despite rough, rugged and crooked ways, they followed the gangsters up and entered the dense forest.
Now Chilatiputra thought, "The merchant is not so scrupulous for his wealth as he is for his daughter Sushuma for whose sake he follows us. If I am caught hold of, I shall be doomed." So he cut off the head of Suhuma with a single blow of sword and he proceeded further with the head of Sushuma, leaving the trunk on the spot. The merchant with the soldiers arrived there to find the most treacherous act of his beloved daugher's murder. They lamented piteously and returned disappointed.
