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one. The whole court rose to its feet and burst into a thunderous applause of ‘Long live Koshalraj! God bless our King and Father!""
Kashiraj's heart melted and he asked Koshalraj for forgiveness. ““Forgive me for all my meanness, for all my cruelty to you. I was blind with jealousy, but the scales have fallen from my eyes and now I can see you for what you are. You are God's messenger to mankind. You have been sent to enlighten us, to show us the path of virtue. I can now understand why your people are so devoted to you and why I can never take your place in their hearts. It is because of your boundless love for them. Love begets love, and they love you with all their hearts. Love conquers all, even hatred and jealousy and enmity. I stand repentant before you and beg you to take back your kingdom and let me go back to mine.""
Having already renounced the world, Koshalraj had no desire to return to a life of power and wealth. He requested that Kashiraj remain as king and that he, Koshalraj, be allowed to stay and work for the well-being of the people. “To feed the hungry, to tend the sick, to console the bereaved, that would be his work till the end of his life."*
This story had a powerful impact on one of Gurudev's listeners in particular. Immediately after the talk, one of the inmates asked to see him privately. The man who made the request had been charged with murder.
Gurudev went to his cell. The guard remained hovering. Gurudev asked him to leave them alone. “You are not afraid?" the guard insisted. “This man is a murderer.”
"No," Gurudev answered in calmness. “I will talk to him alone.”
When the two were left in peace, the man begged him to help him. “I am not guilty,” he blurted out. Gurudev led the man into seeing another aspect. He asked him, “In your life, have you not hurt anybody?”
The man repeated, “I swear to you, I have not killed this
The entire talk soon came to be published in a book first in Gujarati, later in English, under the title Bondage and Freedom.
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