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NOT GLASS-GOLD
THE name of the Rani of Jhansi-Laxmibai—is carved in letters of gold in the annals of Indian history. In spite of being a young widow she administered her kingdom with wisdom and ability.
Once a learned Pandit came to the capital to give recitals of the ancient epics. The Rani was present at the recitals. Her delicate wrists were adorned with bracelets of gold. The orthodox reciter could not refrain from passing a disparaging remark: "It seems women show scant respect for religious customs these days. A woman wears glass bangles so long as her husband is alive; but even after the husband's death, some women adorn themselves with gold bangles because they may not wear glass bangles!"
wears
The Rani retorted, "Panditji, a woman glass bangles so long as her husband is alive because they remind her that the body is frail and transient. But when that body has gone the way of all flesh, the soul mingles with the gold of the eternal soul of God. These gold bangles are only a symbol of the fact that my husband's soul has now united with the eternal, golden soul of the Supreme Being under whose benign shelter I now live.”
The learned scholar, impressed with the Rani's enlightening reply, bowed his head in admiration.
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