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The Value of Self-Control
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101
The Value of Purity
A girl named Bhatta was born to a wealthy family in the city of Avanti. She was beautiful and highly intelligent, but also very stubborn and she unfailingly demanded homage from those around her. When she reached the appropriate age for marriage, Bhatta declared that she would marry a man who would never disobey her, or she would not marry at all.
The condition of Bhatta's marriage spread like fire throughout the city. After the passage of many years without any proposals for Bhatta's hand, Minister Subudhi put forth his proposal to Bhatta's father. The merchant was overjoyed, and Bhatta was at last settled in the domestic life.
Bhatta began her life at her new home. No one, not even her husband, dared to disobey her. Bhatta demanded that her husband should return home every day before sunset, and this command he dutifully carried out until one fateful evening when he was delayed until dark. Being furious, Bhatta locked Subudhi up and did not responsed to his persistent knocking. At last she opened the door, only to run away from the house. She went out and became invisible in the darkness of night.
Alarmed for the safety of a young woman out alone in the middle of the night, Subudhi regretted his wife's brisk stride. As fate would have it, his fears were indeed confirmed. Bhatta was soon abducted by thieves. They
