________________
THE CO-TRAVELLERS AND THE ODYSSEY
289
Said Bhadra, 'I had given the shawls to my daughtersin-law who used these as rags to clean their heels before throwing away the stuff'
The emissary's report was an eye-opener to the king He desired to see Shalıbhadra Bhadra invited the royal guest to her home.
The king visited the widow's place The lavish display of wealth was astonishing Bhadra asked her son Shalıbhadra to receive the royal visitor downstairs He did not know what a king is He had ever lived in his ivory tower He showed an indifference to the proposal taking 'king' to be a commodity You may buy it,' he said
'King is no commodity, my boy He is the emperor of Magadha and our master
Learning of a ‘Master' palled his conceit of being supreme and free He willy nilly went to greet the king who offered him a seat and affectionately talked to him The boy was taciturn and glum On his mother's request the king dismissed him immediately The boy was not only melancholic, he showed neurotic symptons like perspiration That his freedom was a myth was a great disillusionment to him
Shalıbhadra was a delicate, sophisticated being with all luxuries for the asking This fad for liberty was his life-breath It was the mainspring of his existence A shock to this cherished notion was a jolt to him He once again craved for his dream of freedom that had been shattered Palatial houses could not provide him with freedom, it was obvious Abandonment of luxurious living still offered some hope Mahavira had advised such an abandoument of palatial buildings to the votaries of freedom Shalıbhadra decided to renounce his household
Bhadra was shocked to learn it She tried hard to dissuade her son but in vain At last she requested him to renounce a wife a day Since he had thirty-two wives he could be detained for at least thirty-two days He bowed to his mother's desire
