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them correctly, sat down in my forest and repeated them on beads I tried to dissuade him but the fellow was adamant and did not take to his heels, Then I asked him to seek a boon, and he asked for a house-full of wealth Now, as I was busy in getting the wealth for him, in my absence from the temple, may master come on a surprise visit and did not find me there The Lord had not been Torshipped for a few days When he detected this lapse on my part, he became furious and it was his curse that turned me into a parrot Since then, I have been living in this forest as a bird You can imagine, sir, what a miserable thing it is for a divine being to live like a parrot My wife also preferred to join with me in the form of a bird. When we fell at Dharanendra's feet and begged for mercy, he said that in order to regain our previous state, we must serve and please you As we were perched on the branch of a tree, this brahmin caught us and brought us to the market This has turned out to be a lucky chance for us, since we are now with you This has improved the brahmin's luck, who has got 500 gold pieces by selling us and this has also brought us nearer to our own liberation But, Sit, please keep my account in confidence and pass it on to none If you do not do it, you put your own life in risk'
"Katha agreed just at that time a monk stood before his shop begging alms As he stood there, a straw from the thatch fell on bis head. The monk was enraged 'In my life, 'said he, 'I have never accepted a thing not given to me But this straw has fallen on my head, and I deem it to be a serious lapse on my part I must cut off my head' As he was about to do so, people held him fast and prevented bim from committing suicide
"This impressed Katha, who felt that this was no ordı. nary monk If he could be induced to stay in a room in bis mansion during his absence from home, thought he, then bis wife Bhadra would not feel lonely, but will have the
