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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
In the absence of any other alternative the father had to follow the son's wishes and he lay himself concealed in the cavity of the said tree.
In the morning Dharmabudhi and Papabudhi arrived there along with the judge and other officers. The words from the tree resounded meaning that Dharmabudhi was a thief. The officers were surprised and began to reflect as to what sort of punishment should be inflicted on the culprit. Here Dharmabudhi was immensely embarrassed to find all this strange development. He was deeply pained to find himself convicted as a thief notwithstanding his innocence. Suddenly an idea flashed in his mind and he having piled grass round the trunk of the tree set it to fire. The tree caught fire in no time. Then one fellow screaming rushed out in partially scorched condition.
The Government Officers asked him : "Who are you? State what is true".
That fellow said with faltering words : "My wicked son degraded me to this plight". With these words he fell on the ground. He departed for good for the other world. The Officers were convinced that this was the plan of Papabudhi to prove Dharmabudhi as a culprit.
He confessed that he compelled his father to stay in the cavity of the tree and made him utter the words : "Dharmabudhi is a thief". So they held Papabudhi guilty of the offence of theft and having searched his house restored to Dharmabudhi the wealth which was found. Then Papabudhi being prosecuted for the offences of breach of trust, false representation, cheating and producing false witness was sentenced to death.
See what consequences follow when one tries to obtain wealth by sins, injustice or unrighteousness. Papabudhi did not obtain wealth, father was burnt and he himself had to face death. Even, today we come across such incidents.
Wealth obtained by immoral, unrighteous and unfair means proves suicidal for the obtainer. It does not leave rest and peace for the obtainer. Such wealth given over to others, also leads the recipients to degeneration. A mendicant who received golden coins earned by immoral means entertained filthy thoughts of
