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A Meeting with Madhu at Mathura
221
The wheel of time kept turning endlessly. The river of their friendship kept flowing ceaselessly. They carried on the administration of the Kingdom ably. Unknown to themselves they had passed through the phase of prime and had become old men. King Sumitra renounced life and he became a Sadhu.
By means of renunciation and self-sacrifice, he attained an extraordinary self-purification. Sacrifice without renunciation may increase the period of a man's existence in Samsar and renunciation devoid of self-sacrifice is transistory. Self-sacrifice is necessary to retain and maintain the spirit of renunciation. In the same manner, renunciation is necessary in order to enjoy the fruits of self-sacrifice.
After his death, King Sumitra became the Indra of the heavenly world called Ishan. Ravan heard with deep concentration this story that Prince Madhu had narratted to him.
"After that what did the divine being tell you ?” Ravan asked eagerly.
"The Ishanendra lived for a long time in extraordinary prosperity, peace and felicity. After the span of his life ended there, he was born in this world, in the city of Mathura as a son of King Harivahan and I am he”.
"Oh! So that divine being narrated to you this story of your previous life”. Ravan looked greatly pleased.
"But who was that divine being ? Did he not tell you who he was ?" Ravan asked him eagerly.
"Yes, sir, Prabhav, after his death kept wandering through the, Samsar. In one life (Janma) he carried out extraordinary austerities and became a "Chamarendra”. By means of his extrasensory perception he remembered the past life. Impelled by his love for me he came to Mathura. He narrated the whole story to me and as a token of his affection for me he presented this weapon called Shula to me". Prince Madhu said ending his narration.
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