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Endurance
(Song of an ascetic—Story of Avanti Brahmin)
The Lord said: “O disciple of Brihaspati there is not in the world a sage who can control his mind when he is pierced by harsh words of the wicked.
Even arrows aimed and directed with force at the most vital parts of a man will not give so much pain as the cruel harsh words of the wicked which rankle in the heart for ever.
O Uddhava, I shall narrate to you a very sacred story of ancient times. Listen to it with rapt attention. It was recited by an ascetic who was ill-treated by the wicked, but who bore it with great patience and fortitude, and who thought it was all due to his own pastactions.This was sung by him.
There lived in Avanti a very wealthy Brahmin. But he led a very miserable life. He earned money by the evil ways of the world. He did business. He was miserly, covetous and very irritable. He did not spend anything in charity. He did not greet his relations or guest with kind words even. He never even attended to the comforts of himself, his wife, children or servants. He was a human iron-safe hoarding and guarding money. He dwelt in a house unknown to all religious activities.
As he led such a miserly and impure life, his sons and relatives did not like him. His wife, daughters and servants got so much disgusted that they would not do what he liked. He took pleasure only in hoarding money. He was destitute of righteousness. He never enjoyed his life. So he lost both this life and the next. The gods presiding over the five Yajnas or daily sacrifices grew very angry.
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