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said : - Darling I I am for the present, greatly afflicted by the fire of separation on hearing about the intended diksă of my only son, and how is it that you are also ready to renounce the world and take Diksă so soon? Why do you thus afflict me like the pouring of salt on an open ulcer? Who will be my support when both of you go away? On whom can I depend ? How is it that you unexpectedly behave thus ? Subhadrā replied
- "Mother ! We all the eight sisters ( I and my co-wives ) have firmly resolved to take Diksā along with our husband. We are not going to withdraw our vow even if the entire conditions of this world were to be completely changed. We shall look upon every one who tries to prevent us from accomplishing our Dikṣā, as our chief enemy. Also, you should not, under any circumstance, prevent my brother Salibhadra who is very eager to take Diksâ." With these words, she went away to her husband's house.
Bhadrā Mâtå overpowered by the tight bondage of deep affection at once went to Dhanyă Śéth's house, and addressing her son-in-law Dhanya Setha, she said, “ O worthy man ! Imminent separation from my only son is already tormenting me, and you are also afflicting me by renouncing the world like one applying a burning cautery to an ulcer caused by a burn. None of you cares for me. I have already become old. It is your sacred duty and that of Śälibhadra, to protect me carefully.
"It is not justifiable that all of you have become ready to take Dikṣā leaving your old mother to rot in affliction. Who will take care of innocent and blameless thirty-two wives of my son and your own eight virtuous wives ?" With these words, an incessant flow of tears rushed from her eyes, as she portrayed a vivid picture of her sorrowful state before him.
Dhanya Śétha listened to her very calmly and replied to her, thus, with pacifying words full of disgust towards worldly pleasures. He said :-" Who is able to protect any one in this worid ? Meritorious deeds of all, done in previous lives, have the
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