Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 27

human, and were afraid to offend the new king. But in their heart of hearts, they thought of Koshalraj. He was like a father to them; now he was in exile and someone else had taken his place on the throne, but how could anyone take his place in their hearts:
Kashiraj was curious to know what the people thought of him. So one night he set out incognito to wander about the streets. He quietly joined a group of people. They were talking about him and their late king. They were all agreed that he was very strong and had not treated them badly, but they still fondly remembered Koshalraj and praised his virtues of forgiveness, love and compassion in glowing terms. Such a one would never come again.
Kashiraj was filled with anger and jealousy. All his display of power and generosity had come to nothing. In the darkness of the night he could read their hearts, he could hear their words of unstinted praise and love for Koshalraj-now an exile, a hermit in the woods, without any worldly possessions. A man like him could not understand how his rival had endeared himself to all. How could he win their love and loyalty? And he came to a decision worthy of his vanity and cruelty. He declared that he would reward any one who captured Koshalraj dead or alive, with a thousand pieces of gold. He was sure that if once Koshalraj was done away with, people would forget him by and by, and turn their affection to him.
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