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The circuitous wanderings through countless janmas 225
of his house and he began to wander about aimlessly. At any rate, in course of time he attained mastery over all arts and accomplishments. That first rate villain...., wicked fellow.... returned home after a long time.
Mridumathi became an invincible gambler in Potanpur. Earning a lot by gambling he amassed a large fortune and began to live in splendour. But since he earned lots of money by wicked means he fell an easy victim to many vices. He became infatuated with a prostitute of Potanpur and began spending his days and nights in her brothel. For a long time he continued to enjoy sensual delights in her company but by some good fortune his soul woke up and he became spiritually aware and began to contemplate on the soul. The contemplations relating to the world and the other world brought about an awakening in him. His soul became brightened by the blissful light of his spiritual contemplations. Just as a snake discards its slough he discarded his sensuality and became an austere Shraman; died in Samadhi and attained birth as a heavenly being in the Brahmadevalok.
After completing the span of his life in the Brahmadevlok, he took birth as a mighty elephant on the Vaithadhya mountain. Dear Ram! That elephant is the Bhuvanalankar.
And Priyadarshan, after ending his existence in the Brahmadevalok was born as your brother Bharath in the Ikshvaku dynasty."
Shri Ram's eagerness ended when he heard this story narrated by the great muni. Bharath's spiritual contentment knew no bounds. After he heard the story of his earlier lives, his spirit of renunciation began surging in his heart like a mighty fountain. He at once got up from his place and prostrated to the feet of Deshabhushan muni. Overwhelmed with emotion, he said, "Revered Lord! Be so gracious as to help me cross the ocean of samsar. Kindly lift me out of the morass of worldly life. I do not desire to remain in the cycle of birth and death and I do not have any attachments for the objects of samsar."
Shri Ram's eyes naturally welled up with tears. Sita, Vishalya and the other princesses were filled with grief. Their
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