King Dishonored

Sage Vasishtha

Continued from here (Gadhi - Tribal - King)

Gavala devoutly served by the maids of the palace and by his ministers, had totally forgotten his humble origin. Thus eight years passed and he ruled the kingdom justly and wisely, with compassion and purity.

One day he roamed out of his inner apartments alone and unadorned with regal dress and royal insignia: people who are conscious of their excellence ignore external adornments. Outside the palace he saw a group of tribesmen who were singing familiar songs. Quietly he joined them and also began to sing with them. An aged tribesman recognized him and rising from the crowd addressed him: "O Katanja! Does the king of this place bestow good gifts and presents upon you in recognition of your musical accomplishments? I am delighted to see you: who will not rejoice to meet an old friend again?" Gavala ignored this: but the ladies of the royal household and the members of the court, who were watching from a distance, were shocked. The king quickly returned to the palace. 

But, the royal servants and the members of the court had not recovered from the shock of the realization that their king was an unworthy tribesman, whom they would not even knowingly touch.  They began to avoid him; they treated him as if he were a putrid corpse. Thus neglected by his ministers, servants and the ladies in waiting who used to adorn him, Gavala began to appear in his real form - as a dark and ugly tribesman, hideous to look at, like a crematorium. Even the citizens avoided him and ran away at his very sight. He felt like a destitute person though he was a king. 

The leaders of the community held a counsel and began to talk, "Alas, we have been polluted by the touch of this tribesman who lives on the flesh of dogs. There is no expiation for this, other than death. Let us raise a huge pyre and thrown our bodies into it and thus purify our souls." Having decide thus, they gathered firewood with which they built a huge funeral pyre. One by one they threw themselves into it. With all the elders thus having ended their lives, there was disorder and anarchy in the city.

Gavala reflected: "Alas, all this was brought about by me! Why should I continue to live: death is preferable to life. For one who is dishonored by people death is better than life." Thus resolved, the king calmly offered his body too into the fire. As fire began to consume the limbs of Gavala, Gadhi, who was reciting prayers immersed in the water of the river, regained his consciousness.

(At this stage, evening set in. Another day came to an end.)

Continued here