Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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a lonely place in a desert where there is no water, I am prepared to be drowned in a well; I would enter burning fire or eat poison or cut myself into pieces with a weapon or be hanged. I would rather be devoured by vultures or live the life of an exile in a remote and strange land but I shall never go back to my wife." Sägaradatta, who heard all this, felt terribly ashamed and disgraced. He came back to his house and told his daughter that her husband would never come back but assured her that he would quickly find another who would really love her.
One of these days, Sāgaradatta saw from the terrace of his house a beggar on the street below. He was in tatters, he had nothing but a broken earthen pot in his hand and he was pursued by thousands of flies. He called his servants and instructed them to catch hold of that beggar, wash him clean, dress him well, feed him properly and bring him into the house. They should take care to see that his broken pot should be securely kept somewhere. But when the servants went to induce the beggar to get into the house and took the earthen pot away from his hands, the beggar started screaming and shouting. When Sagaradatta asked why the beggar was shouting so loudly, the servants said that it was because of the broken earthen pot from which he did not want to part. Sāgaradatta said in that case, the servants need not remove the wretched pot from him but let it rather remain by his side so that he would have confidence in all of them. Then the beggar agreed to be anointed with oil bathed with hot and scented water, dried with a scented woollen towel and dressed in new clothes having the picture of a swan printed on them. His hair was properly dressed and his person was adorned with various ornaments. He was given a sumptuous meal before being taken to Sågardatta. In the meantime, he too got his daughter Sukumārikā properly decked up as a bride. When the beggar came, Sāgaradatta offered his daughter to him as his wife and assured him that she would always love him. The beggar agreed to the arrangement but when the newly wedded husband and wife came in close contact with each other, the beggar had the same shocking experience as her first husband Sāgaraka had. He quickly jumped out of the bed, rushed out of the bed room, collected his broken pot and vessel and ran away from the house 'like a crow