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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
341
where I liked and hardly realised what could be the nature of miseries or difficulties.
Oh, King, one day I had some pain in my eye. It was, eyesore and I had acute pain. I got no sleep and I suffered immensely like a fish out of water. This pain developed into pernicious fever. My head was breaking as if with strong headache and chest ailings and my waist was as if crumbling. My pains beggared description. Various expert pathologists were summoned who made thorough diagnosis of my disease, in fourfold manner. I had to take costly medicines, still they could not relieve me of my pains. Oh, King, this was my helplessness.
When the physicians failed, my father tried many kinds of remedies and spent much wealth after me. He also openly declared if one could cure me, he would share his half the estate and property. Still however, none could relieve me of my pains. Oh King, this was my helplessness. My mother loved me very dearly. She loved me as the pupil of her eye. She was deeply grieved to find me in that state and she observed many vows and abstinences to get me relief, still she could not relieve me of these pains. Oh, King, this was my helplessness.
My brothers born from the womb of my own mother, and brought up with me, served me having retired from their daily activities of business. Still they could not relieve me of my pains. Oh king, this was my helplessness.
My sisters, wife and friends were deeply pained to see my plight. They tried various remedies but could not relieve me of these pains.
When thus I found myself in the state of utter helplessness I realised futility of all the means of remedying grievances as abundant wealth, all worldly accomplishments, friends and relatives could not run to my rescue. None could free me from the bonds, of miseries. Therefore, I concluded that there must be some other means of remedying miseries. I was fully convinced on this matter and remembered a verse :
"Self-wrought deeds are never destroyed even after millions of ages, their rewards must be reaped”.
