ABHISAR (Dating)

In old days there was a great disciple of Lord Buddha, a young saint named Upagupta in Mathura.  It was an evening of Sravana month, sky covered with dark clouds, gusty wind blowing off the lamps, all doors closed, even the star light was not visible. The sanyasi was taking rest sleeping on roadside.

There was a courtesan (harlot) in that city named Basabdutta. She was rich, beautiful and proud that the rich and famous of the town vie with each other for her company. In her arrogance the courtesan used to enjoy rejecting many men who seek her company. On that very evening she was going along that path and her anklet-ringing feet unintentionally stuck that lying man. Upagupta awoke and looked at her with a compassionate forgive. Basabdutta, infatuated by his powerful personality with calm and bold look, instantly fall in love for him. She told, “Oh young man, please forgive me. But why are you lying here on hard rocky road? This is not proper place for a Youngman like you. Come with me and have comfort at my place." The monk smiled and rejected her proposal.It was the first time she experienced such a refuse from a youngman . So she was not ready to easily accept it and went on insist him. After her persistent request finally the monk said, “OK, I shall visit you, not now but when the time comes.”

After that many days passed by. One day the monk defied the king upholding his high principles and the infuriated king ordered him to leave his kingdom. So, the saint used to wander in a forest at outskirt of the city. Then, one day, it was a full moon evening in spring, Birds singing, flowers blooming and spreading their fragrance, Upagupta was walking along the forest side road . Suddenly he saw a human body, abandoned, seriously sick and weak, about to die, moaning in pain, lying on roadside. He hurriedly went near and found it was none other than Basabdutta suffering from acute small pox. He immediately started to nurse her, feed her drops of water, applied sandal wood paste on her body and after some comfort when the courtesan opened her eyes, the saint told her, “look Basabdutta, time has come to meet you  ...…don’t worry”