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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not go back to his father but seemed to have been lost in the forest, as these women had given him to understand. He was feeling very worried and miserable. Exactly at that time he heard the sound of musical drums and such other instruments and he was quite annoyed at the idea that some body in the town should be enjoying like this when he was himself grieving. When the courtesan was told of the king's displeasure at the music, she hastened to the palace, bowed low at his feet and explained what precisely was the occasion for the music. She said an astrologer had predicted to her that soon enough a young ascetic might turn up to her house and he would be the right type of husband for her daughter. Their marriage was destined to be happy. Therefore, when she saw a young ascetic at her door step, she quickly decided on a prompt wedding. She was not at all aware that the king was in distress regarding the whereabouts of the prince, his brother. She humbly begged His Majesty's pardon.
Some people in the town, who had seen the young hermit in the forest now quickly recognised him when they saw him during the wedding. They reported the matter to the king and the king was delighted to bring him back to the palace. He also welcomed his wife, the courtesan's daughter. In due course, he gave him the share of his kingdom and married him to other princesses.
Somacandra the old hermit in the forest could hardly bear the separation from his son. He felt so terribly miserable that the profuse lot of tears that he shed cost him his eye sight. The fellow hermits took pity on him and attended upon his needs with great care. Some of them even collected information regarding his missing son Valkalacirin and one such report consoled the grieving father very much. This report said that the young prince was safe with his brother king Prasannacandra with whom he lived happily in the palace.
Twelve years passed. One night however Valkalacirin remembered his father and felt miserable about his own unkind behaviour with him, he should not have left him alone in the forest. Next morning, he asked his brother to relieve him of all the burdens of administration so that he could go back to the forest and be with his father. Prasannacandra also expressed his desire to meet his father and they both went to the forest. Somacandra's companions