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12
The Image and the Reflection
A king invited five theologians and said, 'I wish to adopt a preceptor for myself But he alone shall be my master who keeps the largest hermitage'
The king went about inspecting the hermitages The first one occupied an area of five acres, the next ten, the third twenty and the fourth forty acres Having inspected the four ones he accompanied the old master of the fifth and the last hermitage to the outskirts of the town under a tree To quell the curiosity of the king the master said
'Here lies my hermitage
'How far does it extend, Sir?'
As far as your vision extenas and further beyond it' It being the most extensive hermitage, he was chosen the king's preceptor
He caressed the mother-earth externally and his self internally Outwardly he observed the human beliefs and Inwardly the perennial truths
The contemporary people were the staunch believers in omens Outlaws also subscribed to this dogma An ill-omen would deter a robber from thieving
(1) Purnakalash was a border village of Radh province The Lord leaves it en route to Magadha ! He came across two robbers They were going to commit theft in primitive areas
1. Fifth year of pursuit
