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PREVIOUS BIRTHS OF PĀRSVANÁTHA 359 Pañcaparameșthins, engaged in concentrated meditation, Visvabhūti died and became a chief god in Saudharma. His wife, Anuddharā, worn out by fever because of separation from him, her body dried up by sorrow and penance, died, engaged in the formula of homage.
The brothers performed the funeral rites of their parents and in course of time, enlightened by Rși Hariscandra, became free from sorrow. Kamatha remained there, always occupied with domestic affairs. When the father has died, generally the elder son is the head of the house. Marubhūti, always knowing the worthlessness of worldly existence, became averse to sense-objects, like an ascetic to food. Devoted to precepts of undertaking study and fasting, engaged in concentrated meditation, he passed days and nights in the fasting-house. Having desisted from everything objectionable, Marubhūti's idea was always, “I shall wander near a guru.”
Intoxicated by the wine of negligence, always confused by wrong-belief, Kamatha on the other hand became devoted to other men's wives and gambling without restraint. Vasundharā, Marubhūti's wife, with fresh youth became the causer of delusion to people, like a living poisonous creeper. But she was never touched at all by Marubhūti, an ascetic by nature, even in sleep, like a desert creeper by water. Then she, desirous of sense-objects and not having any union with her husband, considers her youth like a jasmine in a forest. Kamațha, who was naturally lustful, undiscerning, after seeing his sister-in-law again and again, addressed her affectionately.
One day Kamatha, seeing her alone, said: “Why do you waste away daily like a digit of the black half of the moon, fair-browed lady? Even if you do not tell it from shame, nevertheless I know your trouble. I think my younger brother, foolish, behaving like a eunuch, is the cause of that.” After hearing that improper speech of his, trembling, she began to flee, her hair and upper garment disheveled. Kamatha ran after her, held her by the hand, and said: “ Foolish girl, why this fear of yours at the wrong time? Bind up your loose
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