Jailer

Author(s): Abhayshekharsuri, Sujata P Kapadia
Publisher: Harshadray Private Limited

Page 75

of rags. Protecting them with his life, by keeping them close to his chest, he reached the outskirts of the city of Kshitipratishthit where his family lived. There he saw a clean, pure lake. Karmasatta tempted him to have a dip in it. Thinking that place to be unfrequented and safe, he put the quilt along with his clothes on the bank and entered the lake. Karmasatta made a monkey take the quilt, which was his only wealth, away. The monkey did not wish to make Bhimsen so helpless, as for him to want to commit suicide. It was just a game for him, but Bhimsen was experiencing so much anguish that he thought of taking his own life. A mendicant with long matted hair saved Bhimsen from hanging himself from a branch of a Banyan tree with a string like shoot. Hearing his sad life story, he took pity on him and reassured him. He made Bhimsen his 'uttarasadhak' and with his help mastered the art of making four pots of Suvarna Rasa. He then generously offered one out of four pots to Bhimsen.
After reaching Kshitipratishthit, the mendicant sent Bhimsen to the city to arrange for some food. He had no bad intention behind sending him. But no sooner did Bhimsen leave, Karmasatta maligned the mendicant's inclination. At the thought of parting with even one pot of Suvarna Rasa, he disappeared before Bhimsen returned.
Uttarasadhak = a supporter who pursues spiritual discipline to attain the highest realization or helps someone to reach the end of a mission successfully
Suvarna Rasa = One drop of which converts a mass of iron to gold
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