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THE CO-TRAVELLERS AND THE ODYSSEY
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- from thievery Mahavira can eradicate the thievish tendency altogether His is a systematic attempt to exterminate our ancestral vocation Hence I exhort you to shun his company. Never so much as go near him, nor listen to him for a moment'
Rohineya took his departing father's counsel to heart Lohakhuro died a happy death at this solemn assurance of his worthy son As ruthless was his swansong as had been his life on earth
Rohineya outdıd his father in cruelty He mastered the craft and began to thrive at the expense of Rajgriha On one side Mahavira preached non-acquisition, non-thieving and fearlessness, on the other side premier Abhayakumar tried new strategies to outwit robbers And still the inhabitants of Rajgriha were having a hard time at the hands of the wily robber Wealthy people were being looted in day out The police helplessly roamed about in search of the culprits with no results worth any name
Robber Rohineya possessed sandals that enabled him to fly and knew how to disquise himself successfully He would appear before the police to tease them and before they could arrest him, either he would assume anoth guise or fly away The king, the ministers, the police and the townmen were at the end of their tether One man Rohineya was enough to ruin their peace
* It was the day-time Rohineya broke into an uninhabited house He attempted to break open the safe The neighbours were alarmed They assembled there Rohineya heard the noise He fled away in his scramble for safety he forgot his miraculous sandals Beside his path was the place where Lord Mahavira preached He wanted to avoid listening to him A seasoned thief would not like to listen to a regular campaigner against the vocation of theft Compliance of his father's last command was also a factor As he approached the pulpit, he plugged his ears with his fingers and accelerated his pace But destiny had it otherwise His right foot was pricked with a sharp thorn He could not move any farther
