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desires unhappiness."
Kulapati impressed the fact on Agnisharma's mind, that only his past deeds were responsible for his afflictions. It is human psychology that one feels like resenting what seems evil. The performance of a 'tapa' is a powerful way of resisting karmas. Agnisharma thought, "My karmas are extremely evil, so to offset them I will undertake a 'tapa' which requires a tremendous effort. I will do 'Masakshamana'. At the end of one month, after breaking the fast, I will again take it up the next day and this I will continue to do till the end of my life!" Agnisharma had no disgruntlement or complaint against Gunasen. Lack of these ill-feelings made him experience unequalled peace of mind.
Just imagine if Kulapati had not given Agnisharma this wisdom or that it was not accepted by Agnisharma. He may have been physically away from Gunasen and he would not have had to suffer any more but he would have certainly remembered all the suffering he had undergone at his hands and that would have caused him mental agony. He would have experienced frightful troubles and held a grudge at not being able to do anything about them. He would have faced terrible jealousy at witnessing Gunasen's meteoric rise to fame and seeing him become king, especially since he considered him an enemy. This is a point to be pondered upon. The person, whom we consider to be dreadfully unjust and an evil foe, is going to appear to us as mean, unworthy and tyrannical, because
Tapa = austerity
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