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Meeting Narad
175
One hunter chasing it entered the hilly area; and at the same time, he shot an arrow; but an astonishing event occurred. The arrow broke into pieces on the way as if it collided against some invisible object. The hunter ran to the place where the broken pieces of the arrow had fallen; and began to examine them carefully wondering how it had thus broken into pieces and against what object it had collided. As he was carefully observing the place, his hand struck against some object which seemed to be a rock. He moved his hands here and there and tried to find out the size of the invisible object; and he fell into deep thoughtfulness. “What an amazing thing! This object is not visible but it is here and can be touched. This must be surely the famous Sphatika gem which is invisible and which can be touched.” For a few moments, he was steeped in amazement and elation. He thought that it was worthy of being in the possession of King Vasu. “If I inform him of this, he will give me a lot of money, and I can become affluent". The hunter went to King Vasu and informed him of what he had found. King Vasu heard what the hunter said; and decided to bring the Sphatika rock to his palace secretly with the help of the hunter; and get a splendid throne made out of it. Accordingly, he brought it to his palace. He sent for expert sculptors and ordered them to make a throne out of it. The sculptors using all their exceptional skill made a throne within a few days. When King Vasu saw the resplendent throne, he was greatly delighted and elated. He could not contain himself. He was immensely pleased with it. But at the same time, a terrible idea occurred to him: “If people come to know of the secret of my magnificent throne, all my aspirations, ambitions and desires will be frustrated. It is certain that the sculptor will speak of the throne which he has made, and will surely praise his artistic creation before others. Why should I not make an end of him ? Nothing will remain afterwards to reveal the secret. If he is alive, it will be a menace to my fame and greatness.”
How ungrateful was King Vasu ! How horrid was his ingratitude ! This is the Samsar. This is the horror of Samsar. This is the pity of Samsar! This is the truth about Samsar! This is
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