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DISCOURSE 19
325
to Nepal to fetch her an expensive shawl. He began to fall from the heights of saintly purity. He was falling headlong into the well of spiritual ruin..
The muni went to Nepal. The king presented him with an expensive shawl embroidered with gems. The muni was greatly delighted with the gift and he at once set off towards Pataliputra. On the way, there appeared many impediments, but overcoming them all, he reached Pataliputra. He went straight to the house of the dancer. The muni who had been overwhelmed by his passion and infatuation and his desire for a union with the prostitute went; and stood near Kosha and said, "Dear one! For your sake, I went to Nepal and brought this extraordinary and expensive shawl embroidered with excellent gems”. Saying this, he gave the shawl to Kosha.
SHE THREW THE SHAWL INTO A GUTTER
Kosha received the shawl from the muni and said, "You have taken a great trouble. In this rainy season, you went to Nepal and brought this shawl. How friendly are you towards me!" The muni was thrilled by every word uttered by her, and felt that they were like drops of manna dripping on his thirsty tongue. He had become totally devoid of all sense in his eagerness for the joy of her company. Lust had annihilated his sense and discretion.
Kosha cut the shawl into two pieces. She wiped her feet with those pieces and cast them into a gutter. The muni was taken aback and with a worried mind, said, "Ah, what have you done? You have thrown a shawl worth one lakh into a gutter. With what great toil and labour did I fetch it for you?" The tears flowed from the muni's eyes. There was neither compunction nor agitation in the face of Kosha. She said to the muniraj;
KOSHA'S EXPOSITORY REPLY
"Oh great muni of the lion's cave ! Do not feel sad. You can get another shawl of that kind but yet you are casting away
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