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178
THE WAY OF LIFE
they did not go away. On the other hand, they insisted upon staying here. They begged me to allow them, to stay here. They were not prepared to leave this place at all and I had to use force to send them out. Therefore, I do not want to give shelter to any traveller here".
The king said to the butcher, “I will not do so ? I will go away as soon as it is morning. Please be kind. Surely, I will not trouble you”. The butcher gave him shelter. The king covered his mouth and nostrils with a cloth and slept there. Yet on account of the foul smell, he could not sleep till mid-night. Gradually, that foul smell penetrated and pervaded his mind. When he woke up in the morning, he felt that everything was all right in the place. He did not desire to go away from there. He said to the butcher, “Dear brother! Please allow me to remain here. I will carry out any task that you may give mie". The butcher laughed and said, “All people say the same thing.... You must get away from here”.
Shukhadevji said, "Parikshit! You please tell me whether the king's behaviour was proper or improper”.
Parikshit said, “Oh lord ! How could he be a king? What a fool he was? It is absolutely wrong to break one's promise. Forgetting his responsibilities as a king, he decided to remain in that stinking cottage. Certainly, what he did was highly improper".
Shukhadevji said, "Parikshit ! that king is none other than yourself”.
"Oh ! Lord ! How is it ?” Parikshit asked, confounded.
"Parikshit! How is this body which resembles that cottage? What is there in this body? It is full of disgusting impurities such as urine, excretion, blood, muscles and bones. How long can you live in this cottage? Do not you desire to leave it even now ? You may have to leave it though you may not wish to do so. Are you not grieved over this prospect? Is it proper to grieve over it? You are a man of wisdom, you see !"
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