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206]
[ Prince Vardhamana Persuaded for Marriage
have come here to remind you of the same. Your parents think themselves very fortunate in that they have got an ideal son like you; but they are equally eager to see your marriage celebrations with their own eyes. It is not only your parents that are so eager to see you married, our parents, too, are anxiously waiting for the auspicious moment when you shall walk round the altar with your bride and accept her hand in marriage. Although life is short and its mission very great, and the question of marriage is wholly incompatible with that mission, still it is one of the important objects of man's life to please the parents by obeying their orders. We have been living with you for so long a time, but your kind heart has never disregarded even a single prayer made by us. Should we not hope that our this request, too, shall be granted by you ?"
The prince replied:
"O my wise friends ! It seems that you are stuck up in mud of attachment. In the first place your very thought seems to be vitiated; secondly, being my companions and bosom friends it is highly undesirable for you that you should plan like this for my ruin. You know quite well that attachment to wife and children is the root cause of karmic bondage. It is an obstacle on our way to self-realisation. Moreover, we have lived in the company of our wives and children in all our lives; is that not sufficient for our satisfaction ? Human life is a great blessing. It is meant for living piously and attaining salvation and not for indulging in sexual pleasures. I do not know why we should waste our time in the company of our wives ond children; why we eat with them, sleep with them, play with them and go to see
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