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Only One Blunder
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her partiality for virtues pierced Queen Kanakodari's heart like thorns. She could not even bear the sight of Queen Lakshmivati. It is a rule in this world that two swords cannot lie in one scabbard. Kanakodari's jealousy and hostility for Queen Lakshmivati kept increasing day by day. She wa planning to do something that would disgrace Queen Lakshmivati. Her purpose was to disgrace Queen Lakshmivati somehow or the other and to make her so ashamed of herself that she would not be able to face the world. Is it not said that man can bear with the stroke of a sword; that he can bear easily with the rigours of severe spiritual austerities; and can bear cheerfully the ravages of hunger and th others' progress, fame and popularity ?
When a man cannot tolerate someone's progress or prosperity he begins to look for defects in that person. He tries to find out the defects or weaknesses in that person. Mortals do have weaknesses. A mortal who is free from all frailties is rare indeed. Weaknesses and vices are present in every Jiva to a greater or a lesser extent. Hence, jealous people indulge in the heinous activity of looking for defects in others and of making false accusations against tham. As a result of this propensity, those people who deem themselves noble, capable and virtuous knowingly or unknowingly fall into the abysm of spiritual ruin. This is certain.
Kanakodari was determined to bring about the ruin of Queen Lakshmivati. In the beginning, she used the maids and attendants in the palace as pawns in her villainous game of chess and spread several mischievous and malicious rumours against Queen Lakshmivati. But all her attempts were like throwing dust at the sun to stain him. The people of Kanakpur were so full of admiration for Queen Lakshmivati and had given such a lofty place in their hearts to her that they were not prepared to give ear to anything said against her. On the contrary, people began to despise Kanakodari herself for her mean tricks and malicious attempts to disgrace Queen Lakshmivati.
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