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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
361
began to cry piteously. By that time, Kapila having loitered arrived. He asked : “Mother why do you cry? Are you not alright? Shall I call for a physician ?”
Mother sighed and said : “My son, I am alright, but I deeply regret your illiteracy. If you received learning you would have enjoyed your father's position. The new priest passed by our house. If you could see him, you would have realised value of education". These words deeply pained Kapila. He determined on the very day to acquire learning and he reached the city of 'Shravasti'.
Indradatta Upadhyaya of "Shravasti" was very popular all over the country for his knowledge and thousands of students came to him to receive learning. The students with fair means spent after provisions and the rest maintained themselves by begging. In ancient times learning by begging alms was not in any way derogatory.
Kapila was admitted to Indradatta's school. For sometime Kapila begged alms but he had to spend much time after begging. He approached a wealthy man and described before him all the difficulties and requested him to provide with required fooding. That kind man managed for his food at the place of a Brahmin widow. That wealthy man sent the food provisions for two men daily at the widow's house.
Manorama cooked and Kapila dined at her house daily. This convenience helped Kapila to make good progress in his studies but on the other hand some evil also took place. Manorama had lost her husband quite in childhood and she could not enjoy pleasures of married life. She gradually enticed Kapila who was finally victimised in her trap of sensual attractions. Youth and solitude mostly bring about man's fall.
By the passage of time Manorama became pregnant and her pregnancy was far advanced. She worried : "How to meet with the expenses of delivery, how to maintain the newcomer". She suggested, “The king gives 2 Masas of gold to one who bestows benedictions on him first in the early morning. So go to him very early in the morning to receive 2 Masas of gold. That will serve the purpose".
On the next day Kapila reached the palace in the morning. But some other Brahmin had already reached the palace before
