Day 261 - Cudala's Final Test and Sikhidhvaja's Enlightenment

 Day 261 - Cudala's Final Test and Sikhidhvaja's Enlightenment

After creating a series of magical illusions to test her husband, Cudala (still disguised as Kumbha) wanted to assess whether Sikhidhvaja could be tempted by the forces of attraction and repulsion. One night, Cudala used her powers to conjure a beautiful garden and an enticing scene where she, in the guise of Madanika, was in an intimate embrace with another man. Despite witnessing this scene, Sikhidhvaja remained composed and unaffected, even politely leaving the scene without anger or jealousy.

When Madanika, feeling ashamed, approached him later, Sikhidhvaja responded with great calm and understanding. He showed no resentment, remarking that he recognized the natural tendencies of people and was beyond such emotions. Impressed with his response, Cudala finally revealed her true identity, shedding her disguises and showing herself as his wife, Cudala.

Sikhidhvaja's Realization and Gratitude

Sikhidhvaja was initially surprised by this revelation, asking how she had been orchestrating the entire journey. Cudala explained that from the moment he left the kingdom for his ascetic life, she had been guiding him, first as Kumbha and through various tests. She had created all the illusions he experienced to lead him toward spiritual awakening.

Reflecting on this, Sikhidhvaja entered into deep meditation, reviewing all the events from the time he left the palace. Filled with gratitude and love for his wife, he acknowledged how she had redeemed him from ignorance. He praised her as being greater than any other woman, declaring that she had achieved what even scriptures and gurus could not—his enlightenment.

Sikhidhvaja's Awakening and Cudala’s Joy

Cudala, in turn, expressed that her actions were out of love for him and that she sought no praise. She rejoiced in his enlightenment and liberation. Sikhidhvaja confessed that he now resided in a state of pure peace, free from confusion, delusion, sorrow, or joy. He had attained a state that even the gods found difficult to reach. He saluted his wife as his guru, acknowledging her as the one who had led him to cross the ocean of samsara (the cycle of birth and death).

A Return to the Kingdom

When Cudala asked what he wished to do next, Sikhidhvaja replied that he had no desires, leaving the decision to her. Cudala suggested that since they were now fully liberated and beyond desires, they should return to the kingdom to rule as wise leaders. She emphasized that delusion was the only thing left to abandon, and ruling the kingdom with wisdom was the next step.

Sikhidhvaja, still considering their previous offer from Indra to enter heaven, asked why they shouldn’t accept it. Cudala responded that she had no desire for pleasure or kingdom. To her, both pleasure and its opposite were the same, and she preferred to remain at peace, unaffected by worldly temptations.

Thus, the two liberated beings spent their night together, enjoying conjugal bliss in the knowledge that they had transcended all attachments. They were now ready to return to the kingdom, not as ordinary rulers, but as enlightened ones free from delusion.