Note 5 — Chapter XL

For instance, there lived of old time in Benares a certain excellent Bráhman, named Virúpaśarman, who was deformed and poor. And he, being despondent about his misshapen form and his poverty, went to the grove of ascetics there, and began to practise severe mortification of the flesh, through desire for beauty and wealth. Then the king of the gods5 assumed the vile shape of a deformed jackal with a diseased body, and went and stood in front of him. When he saw that unfortunate6 creature with its body covered with flies, Virúpaśarman slowly reflected in his mind,—“Such creatures are born into the world on account of actions done in a former life, so is it a small thing for me that I was not made thus by the Creator? Who can overstep the lot prescribed by destiny?” When Virúpaśarman perceived this, he brought his self-mortification to an end and went home.