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THE WAY OF LIFE
Navakar mantra is an austerity but you must tell the beads in the garland and carry out the austerity according to the scriptural prescriptions. If you do so, you will surely experience the fruit of that austerity or its efficacy. The Chief Minister, Pethad Shah took Lilavathi, the Queen of Mandavagadh to his bungalow secretly and requested her to stay in an underground vault, in his bungalow. Do you know what austerity, the Chief Minister advised her to perform ? He advised her to perform the Japa of Shri Navakar mantra because the Queen was in great anguish. She was grieved by her own misfortune as well as by the anguish that had been caused to the Chief Minister by the false accusation. She thought, "On account of me, the Chief Minister also is falsely accused and his name is stained. On account of me, he may have to experience many more hardships. What a bold step he has taken to give me protection ! He has placed me in the underground vault of his bungalow. If the King comes to know of this, we may have to face terrible consequences". Lilavathi began to shudder with fear. Goaded by her anguish and agitation, she came to a decision, "I need not live any more. Let me die committing suicide". When the great Queen, Lilavathi was going to commit suicide, Pathamini, the wife of the Chief Minister happened to come into the vault unexpectedly. She prevented the Queen from committing suicide.
"Why are you trying to commit suicide ? Sorrows can never be ended by committing suicide. Sorrows can be destroyed only when we experience them with emotional equanimity. Here you can be without any fear; you can be without any worry. No harm can occur to you here". Pathamini gave this assurance to the Queen. The Queen said to her, “I do not like to live with this stain upon my name. Therefore, I prefer death to this disgrace. Moreover, on account of me even the Chief Minister has been falsely accused. I have been a source of misfortune to him". Saying this, the Queen began to weep bitterly.
PATHAMINI GIVES ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE QUEEN
Pathamini's eyes were also filled with fear, Pathamini holding the chin of the Queen, said, "My dear sister, do not
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