Page 31 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

other in need or distress. On obeisance to him, if one offered money, he used to tell him that he needed no money as he was living on a solitary hill. But if somebody came forward with milk or fruits for him, he used to feel glad at having them and then after having left a little amount of the gift for him, he used to distribute the rest among his devotees.
The very next day, we again went to that hilltop to pay a visit to the sage. That day he told us about the Queen Madalasa. The Queen, besides being pious, was philosophy embodied. Biswa Basu was her father. Pravardhan Raj, who came of Chandra family, was her husband. The famous alarka was their youngest progeny—their son. he had about four siblings, senior to him. But Madalasa, their mother, had taught them the lessons of renunciation and philosophy much before they reached their puberty so carefully that they had developed the spirit of renunciation in them so much so that they renounced family life and went for hermitage in forests. and when the youngest child, alarka, was born, the King Pravardhan told Madalasa, “Dear Queen, give this child to me, or the throne would remain vacant and do not teach him any philosophy of renunciation.” and Madalasa promised him to do likewise.
as alarka grew, he was taught by his father, the King Pravardhan. he became very good at administration as much as at sword-playing. Madalasa gave him a talisman, saying, “Never take it off; if you are ever in any acute crisis and fail to overcome it, then you take it off. it is something like a panacea—the greatest remedy to any kind of malady.” alarka took it to be the greatest gift from his dear mother and kept it safe.
in course of time, both the King and the Queen breathed their last. alarka, on being coronated, began ruling his land and thus spent his time in happiness. Thereafter sons and daughters were born to him, followed by grandchildren. Being glad with all he had, he forgot God. it,therefore, didn’t seem to him that everything earthly is ephemeral and mortal.
The mother Madalasa, before she left for her heavenly abode, sent a message to the elder brothers of alarka that the latter was not taught the philosophy of renunciation and that when they would
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