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I BOW BEFORE ASCETICISM
MAHARAJA PRIYADARSHI was as devout and humble as he was regal. He bowed before every ascetic he came across on the way. His minister, Yasha, did not approve of this. Very respectfully he said to the Raja, “My Lord, in this throng of religious mendicants, there are many castes; it does not become your kingly position to bow before any and every mendicant indiscriminately. A man in your elevated position need bow only before a monk of the highest caste.”.
The Raja held his peace, as if he had not heard him. He waited for a suitable opportunity. One day, a man was beheaded in the city. The Raja sent for the dead man's head. Next he sent for the heads of the sheep and goats that had been slaughtered that day. Then he commanded Yasha ,to lay out these heads at the main gate of the city and sell them to the passers-by.
Yasha detested this strange and unpleasant task assigned to him, but he dared not disobey his lord and master.
The heads of animals were soon sold out, for there were many flesh-eaters in the land, but the human head remained unsold; nay, men were disgusted at the very sight of it.
When he returned, the Raja asked, "Well, have you sold all the heads:" Bowing humbly, Yasha
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