________________
700
I am the Soul Karna did not move to remove the insect. He thought, “If I were to pick up the insect and throw it away, my body would stir and in turn Gurudev's sleep would get disturbed. No, let the insect bite, what harm can it do?" Karna did not move. The insect found it easy going. It began to bite deeper. It bit into the skin on the thigh, and then deeper into the flesh. The pain was unbearable but Karna was bearing it quietly so that Gurudev's sleep would not be disturbed, that he would not be bothered. But Brothers! Call it Karna's misfortune; the wound on the thigh began to bleed. Karna was unaware but blood began to flow in a stream. Karna was immersed in devotion and the blood flowed on. He was experiencing the gratitude towards the unlimited benevolence of the Guru. The blood stream reached the back of Parashuram sleeping with an uncovered torso. The moment the hot blood touched him he awakened and sat up. And he saw Karna's thigh bleeding.
"Son, Karna! What is this? ‘Oh, nothing! Just a small insect bite!' “But Son, look at that! It is bleeding profusely!'
"Oh that's all right, Gurudev! Let it flow, you may sleep. You were disturbed.'
No Son! How can I sleep? How badly you are hurt!'
Parashuram's heart was full of affection for Karna. He began to worry about Karna, but the next moment the feeling of vengeance lying within him was awakened. He thought that howsoever tolerant a Brahmin might be, he would not be able to tolerate to this extent. Only a Kshatriya and none else would have such tolerance. He was greatly disturbed and began to shake with anger, and roared, 'Tell me, who are you?
Karna was scared. “This seems to be the end! I am caught. My tolerance has revealed my caste. Had I not tolerated, had I
Jain Educationa International
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org