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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
403
was found, Papabudhi striking his head against a stone cried and said : "Alas, I am undone. Now what shall I do? I had all my possession here only. So you alone came here and stole away my wealth. Return to me my share or else I shall go to the royal court for justice".
Dharmabudhi said : "Oh you wretch, what do you say ? I would never steal but I feel you alone have stolen my wealth. Return, therefore, my share or else I shall drag you to the Court of law".
But Papabudhi was not easily to be taken in by him. He on the contrary began to scold Dharmabudhi. Thus quarrelling, both of them approached the Judge in the court of law. The judge hearing both the parties said: "I shall have to rely on mystical evidence in this matter". The Papabudhi said: “This is not proper form of justice. Documentary evidence is most reliable and then follows oral evidence. In the absence of these two forms of evidence only, the mystical evidence is to be resorted to. In our matter sylvan deity is my witness". On hearing this plea the judge released both of them on bail and called them in the next morning
Papabudhi narrated the entire account to his father at home and he further confessed that he did steal the wealth. He further added that with the help of his oral evidence he would succeed in swallowing the whole amount of wealth. His father exclaimed : "How is it possible ?”.
Papabudhi said : “In that region there is a tree (Khijada tree) with a cavity inside the trunk wherein you should lie concealed just now lest some one would smell the secret. In the morning when I will arrive there along with the judge you will be asked by me : "Oh, Sylvan God, you stand to our witness. State therefore, who could be the thief?” Then you should say "Indeed, Dharmabudhi is the thief".
Now the father was not so wicked as the son. He said : “This is not proper. I feel this will not lead to any good”. But Papabudhi compelled his father and added : "If you do not act so, we shall be doomed. Do not find fault with me when consequences follow". A sinful man induces others also to commit sin and leads them to calamity.
