The Life and Conduct of the Holy

He raged violently, especially against the superiors and leaders of the monasteries, and awakened and began a terrifying, cruel war against them. This so frightened and made fearful the hearts of some believers that they followed and complied with his tyrannical and inhuman commands. However, the leaders of the monks publicly punished the king's godless undertaking and spoke against him to his face. Through the torture of this temporal life, they were transformed into eternal salvation. Others hid themselves in the mountains and deserts, not because they fled death and torture, but by a special arrangement of God. Now when India was entirely afflicted and taken over by such darkness, the believers driven out from all places, and the servants of unrighteousness possessed everything, poisoning the very air with their idol sacrifices: it happened that one of the king's highest and foremost governors, and the king's innermost and secret counselor, who surpassed all others in beauty of form, excellence of understanding, virtue, and constancy, heard the king's unjust commands and edicts. He renounced worldly pomp, left all temporal goods, honor, and pleasure, and joined the leaders of the monks in the deserts and wildernesses of the mountains. He devoted himself to fasting, praying, watching, and divine contemplations. Thereby, he enlightened his body and soul from suffering passions uncontrolled emotions with an impassible and eternal light, and made himself free from all worldly vanity and worries. When the king perceived that he had lost the one whom he had loved so intensely and held in such