Page 46 - Desire to Disaster

as possible and lead a blameless life. But despite attaining
human birth, if you are only concerned with indulging your
senses and seeking more and more comfort for your body,
you will lose the motivation to stay away from sin and lead
a blemishless life. A sinless life is only possible if you stop
pandering to your senses and seeking material comforts.

Sunanda becomes the Queen

While Rupsen was reborn as a snake and was wandering in the
forest, what was Sunanda up to? Princess Sunanda conveyed
to her mother that she was willing to get married. Hence, her
parents married her off to a wealthy king, befitting their own
royal status. So she became the queen and travelled with her
husband, the king, to live in his kingdom. Coincidentally, her
new abode was right beside the forest in which Rupsen lived
as a snake.

Look how Rupsen was suffering for his sins of lack of self-
control and deep attachment!

The Snake saw Sunanda
One day, it so happened that Queen Sunanda stepped into
the park behind her palace for a walk. By chance, Rupsen,
who was reborn as a snake, happened to be in that park. He
saw her. Upon seeing her, his previous attachment, stemming
from his past birth, was awakened and he thought to himself,
“Wow! What a gorgeous face!”

Who could have explained to the poor fellow that it was his
admiration and desire for beauty that had caused him so much
misery! And that he needed to curb this admiration since it
simply inflamed his passions and deepened his attachment.
His desire for Sunanda’s beauty had caused his untimely
death not once but twice. And now he had been reborn as
a snake. When would he understand the consequences of his
actions? As Rupsen, he had the chance of meeting a saint or

46 Desire to Disaster