|
37.I AM NO CRANE
In this preoccupation she seemed to have
forgotten the mendicant waiting outside.
After her husband had been cared for and
fed, she came out with alms to the
mendicant.
She said: "I am sorry to have kept you
waiting long. Pardon me."
Kausika, burning with anger, said: "Lady,
you have made me wait for such a long
time. This indifference is not fair."
The woman told the brahmana: "Best of
brahmanas, kindly do forgive me. I was
serving my husband and hence the delay."
The brahmana remarked: "It is right and
proper to attend on the husband, but the
brahmana also should not be disregarded.
You seem an arrogant woman."
She said: "Be not angry with me and
remember that I kept you waiting only
because I was dutifully serving my
husband. I am no crane to be killed by a
violent thought and your rage can do no
harm to the woman who devotes herself to
the service of her husband."
The brahmana was taken aback. He
wondered how the woman knew of the
crane incident.
She continued: "O great one, you do not
know the secret of duty, and you are also
not aware that anger is the greatest enemy
that dwells in man. Forgive the delay in
attending to you. Go to Mithila and be
instructed in the secret of good life by
Dharmavyadha living in that city."
The brahmana was amazed. He said: "I
deserve your just admonition and it will
do me good. May all good attend you."
With these words he went to Mithila.
Kausika reached Mithila and looked for
Dharmavyadha's residence, which he
thought would be some lonely hermitage
far from the noise and bustle of common
life.
He walked along magnificent roads
between beautiful houses and gardens in
that great city and finally reached a
butcher's shop, in which was a man selling
meat. His amazement was great when he
learnt that this man was Dharmavyadha
|
|