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RANASURA
King Ranasura of Kanchanpura was so very licentious that he spent much of his time in the company of his consort Srikanta, and never cared for any spiritual activity One day, as he was seated in the court, an unknown person came there and said in a challenging tone :
"Oh king! It is not a good thing to remain immersed all the time in objects of pleasure and enjoyment. Total indifference to religion is another name for a total indifference to spirit. One should keep in view the fact that life is short and death is inevitable If you think that you can do anything you please with your earthly power, then you are mistaken I challing you and you can test it against me!
This was too much for the king to bear in silence. He ordered his men to pursue him and kill him All of them reached an open field where the encounter took place, but what to speak of being a match for him, none of the king's men did dare to come near him Single-handed, he defeated them all, and put them to their heels The man then returned to the court, held the king by his hairs and removed him to a far-off juogle.
The king was now all alone in the jungle, far, far away from his city, and more than that, from Sukanta, whose separation he could not bear even for a moment. He felt so helpless Just at that moment, he saw a monk in meditation, and sat down near him. When the meditation was over and the monk opened his eyes, he saw the king At once, these puzzling words came out from the monk's mouth :
“Hellow! Haven't you got your solution yet ?»s
The king could not catch his meaning, and said almost mechanically,
"Be kind to me, sire.”
