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BANKACHULA
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He was now remembering the Acarya again and again. He was a completely changed man and was keenly waiting for the day when he would meet the great monk again At last, his ardent desire was fulfilled and the great monk arrived in the city one day Bankachula waited on him in a manner befitting his present position When he met the great monk, he courted the vows of a devoted follower from him It was on this occasion that he became acquainted with a merchant named Jigadas who had come from a town named Saligram which was located near Ujjain linadas was a devoted follower Both Baokachula and Jinadas became great friends
Bankachula's three vows had already been tested, but now there remained the fourth one Once the king assigned an expedition to Bankachula against the powerful kiog of Kamrup Bankachula was a veteran in the art of fighting But the task was immensely difficult However, the expedition went in his favour, though at a tremendous cost. He received severe injuries all over the body Bankachula came back to Ujjain. The best physicians were appointed by the king to attend him, but they could hardly give him any relief. One day, the king asked,
"Are the wounds too severe to be filled up ?" The physicians thought for a wbile and said,
“Sır ! All our medicines have proved futile Now remaios the last one"
"What's that ?asked an anxious king, "It's the meat of a crow." Bapkachula heard it and at once reacted,
“This is not acceptable to me. I am bound by a vow not to take it"
The king—"My dear friend ! Vow is not more important than your life You have to take it"
Bankachula—"But, sir, I cannot agree I have given up all kinds of meat, what to speak of the meat of the crow.”
The king-Baokachula! All the vows are meant for
