Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 37

Shridevi: It would not be possible for you to do so; otherwise in far off Shrävasti there stays your father's friend Indradatta; he gives training to many students. If you go to him, you can get what you desire.
Kapil agreed to go there. He got ready in a couple of days and set off for Shrävasti. Reaching there in due course he bowed to Indradatta. Then introducing himself he informed the latter about the purpose of his visit. Indradatta was pleased to see the friend's son and willingly undertook to give the training. Since Kapil had, however, no money with him, he had to go to the city for alms and come back by noon. Cooking and taking meal thereafter left very little time for studying.
Since he was found lagging behind in study, the preceptor asked for the reason. As Kapil informed him about the problem, Indradatta took him to a gentleman. The latter felt compassionate at Kapil's condition and arranged for his meal at a young widow's place. Kapil's worry on that account was thus over.
Lesson 47: Kapilmuni, Part 2
While one worry was thus over, Kapil came across another major problem. He had now grown to youthful age. The widow, who was preparing meals for him, was also young and there was no one else in her household. Those two therefore happened to talk to each other and that reached the level of fun. In course of time it developed into affection and Kapil got enamored of her. Lonely company is fraught with risks.
Kapil's study was set aside and he virtually started a family life. Both of them could have enough to eat from the grocery that was being sent by the said gentleman; but how to manage for the clothes and other requirements? Being a simpleton he did not know the intricacies of worldly life; the poor fellow therefore could not make out how to get money. But the widow showed the way. She said that no purpose was to be served merely by holding the head in despair. She pointed out that the king of that place used to give two grains of gold to the Brahmin, who goes to him and blesses him the first in the morning. She therefore asked Kapil to go to the king first of all and get two grains of gold. Kapil agreed to do so.
Thereafter he tried it for a week, but every time he was late and failed to get the gold. Thereupon he thought that if he slept in the open compound, it would be possible for him to get up early. Accordingly he spread the bed in the compound. As he awoke at midnight, the moon was rising. He took it as the time of sunrise and rushed towards the palace in order to bless the king. The night watchman took him to be a burglar and held him. Kapil thus got involved in an unanticipated trouble. In the morning as the watchman took him to the king, Kapil stood there virtually in a dumb state.
As the king did not notice in him any sign of being a burglar, he asked him about the facts. When Kapil said what had happened, the king took pity upon the poor Brahmin, who could treat the moonrise as sunrise. As such, he thought to remove his poverty. So he told Kapil to ask for whatever he liked and promised to grant it. Kapil, however, stood dumbfounded. Thereupon the king asked, "Why are you not asking for anything?"
Kapil: My mind is still confused and I do not make out what to ask for.
King: In that case go to the adjoining garden, think over and then ask for what you want.
Lesson 48: Kapilmuni, Part 3
Kapil went to the garden and started thinking. Though he had come only for two grains of gold, he was now overtaken by a flood of desires. He first thought of asking for five gold coins, but then thought that