There were two brothers Sankha and Likhita of austere vows. The two brothers lived on the banks of the river Vahuda separately.
Once the younger brother Likhita came to the house of the elder brother Sankha.
Sankha was out at that time and Likhita ate some fruits in the branches of the trees in the place of Sankha.
At this time the Sankha came and saw what Likhita was doing.
Sankha asked Likhita 'How did you obtain these fruits that you are eating now?'.
To this Likhita said that he took them from the trees belonging to him, Sankha.
Sankha became furious of this and said to Likhita 'you took fruits from my orchards. But you did not obtain permission from me. That means you have committed a theft. So go to the King Sudyumna and confess your transgression and accept whatever punishment that He would give you'.
Likhita, went to see the King and to confess his theft. The King heard that Likhita was coming to his court and he came outside to receive him.
King asked him what the purpose of his visit was.
To him Likhita narrated his crime of obtaining fruits without the permission of the owner and the punishment for the same.
The King said to him 'A King who has powers to punish a crime has also the powers to forgive the same'.
The King further asked him what else he wanted and to this Likhita replied nothing.
The King in order to punish the Likhita ordered both his hands to be cut off.
Likhita now went back to meet Sankha and asked him for his forgiveness as he has been punished by the King, already.
To him Sankha replied 'I am not angry with you. Because of your act your merits has suffered a little loss. I wanted to rescue you of that sin. That was the reason why I asked you to go to the King and get punished by him. Now you have been purified. Go to the river Vahuda and take a dip in its waters'.
Even as he was taking a dip in its waters two lotuses appeared in the place of two hands.
Sankha said to him 'that it was due to his penances'.
Likhita asked him 'he could have pardoned him early itself but why he acted in this manner'.
To him Sankha said 'I am not the person authorized to punish. Punishment is the duty of the King and therefore I asked you to go to the King'.
'The ruler has himself purified by this wielding of the rod of chastisement'. If not he would have acquired demerits. Because a ruler who takes one sixth of the income of his subjects does not maintain law and order, does not punish them those who transgress the law and order acquires one fourth of the sin committed by his subjects.
Once the younger brother Likhita came to the house of the elder brother Sankha.
Sankha was out at that time and Likhita ate some fruits in the branches of the trees in the place of Sankha.
At this time the Sankha came and saw what Likhita was doing.
Sankha asked Likhita 'How did you obtain these fruits that you are eating now?'.
To this Likhita said that he took them from the trees belonging to him, Sankha.
Sankha became furious of this and said to Likhita 'you took fruits from my orchards. But you did not obtain permission from me. That means you have committed a theft. So go to the King Sudyumna and confess your transgression and accept whatever punishment that He would give you'.
Likhita, went to see the King and to confess his theft. The King heard that Likhita was coming to his court and he came outside to receive him.
King asked him what the purpose of his visit was.
To him Likhita narrated his crime of obtaining fruits without the permission of the owner and the punishment for the same.
The King said to him 'A King who has powers to punish a crime has also the powers to forgive the same'.
The King further asked him what else he wanted and to this Likhita replied nothing.
The King in order to punish the Likhita ordered both his hands to be cut off.
Likhita now went back to meet Sankha and asked him for his forgiveness as he has been punished by the King, already.
To him Sankha replied 'I am not angry with you. Because of your act your merits has suffered a little loss. I wanted to rescue you of that sin. That was the reason why I asked you to go to the King and get punished by him. Now you have been purified. Go to the river Vahuda and take a dip in its waters'.
Even as he was taking a dip in its waters two lotuses appeared in the place of two hands.
Sankha said to him 'that it was due to his penances'.
Likhita asked him 'he could have pardoned him early itself but why he acted in this manner'.
To him Sankha said 'I am not the person authorized to punish. Punishment is the duty of the King and therefore I asked you to go to the King'.
'The ruler has himself purified by this wielding of the rod of chastisement'. If not he would have acquired demerits. Because a ruler who takes one sixth of the income of his subjects does not maintain law and order, does not punish them those who transgress the law and order acquires one fourth of the sin committed by his subjects.
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