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FIVE PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS
203
It happened at that time that Dharaṇījata became poor and, as he had heard that Kapila was rich, he came to get money from him. Kapila welcomed him by washing his feet, et cetera. An ordinary guest must be honored, how much more a guest who is a father. Then after his father had bathed and the customary rites had been performed, when it was meal-time, Kapila said to his wife, “He is my father. So, wife, prepare the best place for food apart 261 for my father." When she had seen the different conduct of the father and son, Satya was very terrified, for she herself was well-born. Knowing by his irreproachable conduct that her father-in-law was well-born, she honored him like a father, like a teacher, like a god.
One day she gave him in secret the Brāhman-murderoath 282 and asked her father-in-law with great respect: "Is this son of yours of pure origin on both sides, or of a secret origin? Please tell me the truth.” Then Dharanijața, noble by nature and afraid of breaking his oath, related the facts. Then dismissed by Kapila, the Brāhman Dharanījața went again to his village, Acalagrāma.
Satyabhāmā went and informed Sri Srişeņa as follows: "By chance this low-born man became my husband. So, now free me from him, like a cow from a tiger, like the moon from Rāhu, like a sparrow from a hawk. I, a very virtuous wife, released by him, will perform good deeds. I have been deceived for so long a time because of bad conduct in former births."
Śrīşeņa summoned Kapila himself and said to him: "Let Satyabhāmā go for the sake of good conduct. What kind of pleasure will you have with her averse to you, as if she were another man's wife taken by force ?" Kapila replied: "I can not endure life for a moment without her. She alone is a life-giving herb to me. I will never abandon
261 64. His father, as a pure Brāhman, of course could not eat with Kapila.
262 67. If he did not tell the truth, his sin would be as great as the killing of a Brähman.
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