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DISCOURSE 40
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assemblage of people who had gathered to participate in the bouts of drinking. The farmer's wife was giving the liquor to all the guests. Suddenly, the decanter slipped from her hands and fell on the ground; and all the liquor in it was spilt over the ground. The farmer began to scold her using highly abusive language.
Satan's messenger said addressing Satan, "Look there. Do you see that farmer? He is the man who did not utter even a single word of abuse when his bread was snatched away”. SATAN IS OVERJOYED
The farmer seized the wine-cup from his wife's hands and began drinking wine in the company of his friends in an inebriate manner. Meanwhile, a poor farmer came there slowly. He saw the recreational assemblage of people making merry in front of the rich farmer's house. He too joined the assemblage. He had been completely tired on account of the hard work he had done throughout the day. His mouth watered on seeing the wine. He desired, "How happy I would be if I could get a couple of draughts of that wine". But the host refused to give him liquor and he began to shout at him angrily, "If I go on giving my wine to such wandering beggars as you, I will be surely a pauper in no time".
Seeing this sight, Satan was greatly delighted and he could not contain himself. Patting on the back of his messenger, he said, "Very good, my friend ! This is only the beginning. Keep watching the sight”.
The first bout of drinking was over. All the farmers who had gathered there had drunk heavily and had been reduced to smithereens by intoxication. They began staggering about and swaying the body in gaiety and in complete intoxication. They held each other by the throat and began to wheedle and flatter each other. Seeing all this, Satan said to his messenger, "Look ! see the effect of liquor on men. It drags them down to the depths of such moral degeneration that they begin cheating one another. Very soon these people will be within our power". The messenger said, "Mighty Sir! This is but the beginning, let the second bout of drinking go on, then they will begin behaving
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