Jain Ramayana Part 2

SR No.: 002022
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 518
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Mythology, & Story
File Size: 23 MB

Page 131

The Ruin of Sodas
"What is impossible if the king is gracious towards me".
"Is the food ready?" Sodas asked him touching his hungry stomach with his hand.
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"Yes sir. The food is ready. I have come to take you to the dining hall".
"Very good! You are really a very faithful and conscientious servant!" Saying this, Sodas put his gold chain around the neck of the head-cook.
The joy of the cook knew no bounds. He began to sway with delight. He placed before Sodas a gold plate containing dishes prepared out of human flesh. The dishes gave Sodas heavenly delight. Therefore, he began to eat the food with great relish. After taking his meal, he called the cook to his side; and said:
"Ah! How can I describe the excellent taste of this food you served me today! Really you are a wizard who can perform miracles. I wish to kill your hands. I will be greatly happy if I can get this kind of food every day. But you tell me what meat has been used to cook to-day's food".
"Dear King! Today, I could not get animal meat anywhere in the city of Ayodhya. But with great difficulty, I managed to secure human flesh; and I cooked it". The cook said with fear.
"Whatever flesh you might have cooked, the food was exquisite ! Ah! yes. From to-day you must cook only this flesh. Do you understand ?"
"As commanded by the King!”
A few moments before, he was greatly afraid of what might happen to him. He was at his wit's end; but when he found that the king was pleased with what he had done, all his doubts and fears disappeared. He remembered the precious gold chain given by the king; and he was greatly elated. The gold chain would free him from poverty for generations. He gladly agreed