Page 125 - Courage Redifined

Shivering with cold the lady said, “But my legs are aching
a lot and I am also down with fever. I cannot even get up.
What should I do ? I think death is better than facing so many
problems.”

How can the sage catch her ploy ? On one hand, her wet
and transparent clothes revealed her fair body parts which
attracted the sage a little. On the other hand, considering her
sorrow to be true, the compassionate sage’s heart was moved.
Hence, he told the lady, “Come, I will give you my hand’s
support. Get up.”
Saying this the sage caught her arm with one hand and her
waist with another hand and supported her to stand up. He
led her towards his hut and made her sleep on the bed.

“BalvanaIndriyagram.”

(The desires of the senses are powerful. Under its control,
the soul becomes powerless.)

Here, the sage saw the beautiful lady’s almost naked body
through her wet clothes and then he got her delicate touch also.
What was left now ? Deep inside, a feeling of lust enveloped
his heart. But he was a sage and hence understanding the
reality he made his mind strong and thought, “She is like my
daughter. How can I get attracted towards her ?”

Vyasa hidden in the woman’s attire thought, “Sage Parashar
has not melted completely.” Hence he continued his drama.
He increased the shivers in his body and again started weeping
out loudly loud, “Ohhh! It is so cold. I cannot bear this.”

Parashar covered her body with his tiger skin and said, “I do
not have anything else to cover you. Take this.”

But the lady (Vyasa in disguise) was also smart. She stayed
silent for a minute and again started shivering and screaming,
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