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[ Shali-Bhadra's Renunciation and Consecration
Thus Shali Bhadra reflected in his mind for a long time. When the mother saw that he did not make any reply, she again tried to persuade him and said, “My dear son, the Emperor has been waiting for you for a long time. What is the harm if you see him. When we are called his subjects, why do you hesitate to see him ?" This time, Shali Bhadra had to leave his seat, in obedience to his mother, and proceed. ed to see the Emperor almost against his will. He descended from the seventh storey and came to the fourth storey where the Emperor had been waiting for him for a long time. He paid his due respects to the Emperor who now stepped forward and took him in his arms. The emperor then embraced him, kissed him on his fore-head, seated him in his lap and began to talk to him very affectionately. Although the Emperor was talking to him with an open heart. Shali Bhadra hardly spoke any sentece in reply. The mother realized the uneasiness of her son and requested the Emperor to leave Shali Bhadra. The Emperor then left him. He went to his room and again began to reflect upon the same problem which was revolving in his mind a few minutes before.
He said to himself, “I thought that I was quite free and that none was superior to me in any respect. But to-day I have come to know that I am not independent and that some one is over me also. Fie on my wealth which could not make me independent. It seems all this is due to my previous Karmas. But why repent, it is not yet too late, I must leave these sensual pleasures at once and practise such a penance which can niake one quite free. I was sleeping up till now. But now, I find that this world is not a place for enjoyment,
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