A Different Ending

A €30 million painting has a fascinating story behind it. During the reign of Louis XIV in France, a poor man was sentenced to death by starvation after he was caught stealing bread.  Her daughter was allowed to visit him daily but she would be frisked thoroughly to prevent food from being smuggled in. Yet, months later, the man was as healthy as ever. Later when it was discovered that the daughter breastfed her father with her baby's milk, the judges were touched with the compassion and love of the woman that they pardoned the father and released him. The story reminds of King Bimbisara who lived during Buddha's time. King Bimbisara was put into jail to starve by his son, Prince Ajatasattu. At one point, his wife had bathed her body with honey, butter, ghee and sugar so that King Bimbisara could survive by licking food off her body. His story however doesn't have a happy ending.


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