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The sage Mandavya who had acquired strength of mind and knowledge of the scriptures, spent his
days in penance and the Practice of truth.
He lived in a hermitage in the forests on the
outskirts of the city. One day while he was immersed in silent contemplation under the
shade of a tree outside his hut of leaves, a band of robbers fled through the woods with
officers of the king in hot pursuit.
The fugitives entered the ashrama thinking that
it would be a convenient place to bide themselves in. They placed their booty in a corner
and hid themselves. The soldiers of the king came to the ashrama tracking their foot
steps.
The commander of the soldiers asked Mandavya,
who was rapt in deepmeditation ' in a tone of peremptory command: "Did you see the
robbers pass by? Where did they go? Reply at once so that we may give chase and capture
them."
The sage, who was absorbed in yoga, remained
silent. The commander repeated the question insolently. But the sage did not hear
anything. In the meantime some of the attendants entered the ashrama and discovered the
stolen goods lying there.
Author : Shri C. Raja Gopalachari
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