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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
427
them on the coach and on the verandah respectively left the house after setting it to fire.
The fire spread quickly and the crowds of people tried to extinguish the fire which was controlled after a few hours. They found two corpses totally burnt which were presumed to be the dead bodies of Yagnadatta and Devdatta. The news, however reached Bhutamati who was simply stunned to dumbness with regret. He promptly returned to his town to find everything reduced to ashes. He fell in swoon and regaining consciousness piteously lamented for his beloved wife Yagnadatta and wept for Devdatta too with words of affection.
A Brahmin friend who was in the know of illicit communion of Yagnadatta and Devdatta said: "The wise do not lament after the happenings. Mostly women are very cunning and so it does not befit you to rely on a woman so much".
Words were true but the man under delusion could not find them palatable. Bhutamati on the contrary said to his Brahmin friend: "How you dare preach me? I am quite clever to judge the character of my wife Yagnadatta. I cannot erase her grace and virtues from my mental screen. Oh, Yagnadatta, when shall I see thee? Oh! Devdatta, you too have left me".
That Brahmin friend said: "Even the sense of highly learned men get stagnant under intense delusion as you do not relish my words which are beneficial for you. Whatever her character, but you shall not see her now, therefore, cast aside your attachment for her and pray to God to get best of your life still to go".
All his well-wishers left after expressing their deep felt condolences. Bhutamati having packed ashes of the (presumed) dead bodies of his wife and friend left Kanthapur some early morning to offer them in the waters of the sacred Ganges.
Now watch the mysterious designs of fate. No sooner did Bhutamati enter a particular town than Yagnadatta and Devdatta met him as accidentally both of them happened to stay in the very town. They were extremely non-plussed to see Bhutamati face to face, but there was no alternative for them but to fall at Bhutamati's feet. They said: "Oh Learned Scholar, Pardon us we repent much for our fault, we were just thinking to come to you but fortunately we have met you".
