Page Text
________________
129
him. He burnt with the fire of love for her. He took the earliest opportunity to see king Dvimukha who was quite shocked to see his pale face and emaciated body. He made urgent inquiries about his health but Pradyota would not make any quick answer to the query and king Dvimukha made repeated queries. At last Pradyota
eaved a long sigh and explained what was ailing him: "One who is in the power of love, Oh chief of men, one consumed by disease, and likewise a mad man, an angry man and one dying- all these leave shame far behind. So, if you desire my welfare, give me as wife this Madanamañjari, your own daughter, Oh chief of men; if you don't, I shall enter the fire." Dvimukha was quite impressed by the determination of Pradyota. So he agreed to give his daughter to him. Accordingly the marriage took place on an auspicious day and after a few days' stay there, Pradyota went back to Ujjayini with his bride.
One of these days, king Dvimukha commanded the people of the city to celebrate the great festival of Indra with greater joy than usual. He ordered that the banner of Indra should be raised everywhere. White flags fluttered all over. Beautiful wreaths and garlands hung on every pole. Various fruits decorated the city. The nautch girls danced merrily, various poetic compositions were written and sung befitting the occasion. Multitudes of men danced through the streets. Jugglers bewildered every one by their tricks. Drums and other musical instruments sounded every where and the roads were sprinkled with water mixed with a great deal of camphor and saffron. Great gifts were exchanged. Seven days of festivity passed in great joy like this. On the day of the full moon, king Dvimukha came with a great profusion of flowers, garments and several other precious things and performed the pūjā of the banner of Indra. He however observed on the next day, that all the gay and colourful things fell to the ground. He noticed that they fell into filth, became ill-smelling and despoiled by people. The thought that came uppermost in his mind was: "Out on all magnificence, for it is evanescent as the streak of lightning and disgusting in the end." The sheer transitory nature of everything in this life, however beautiful and attractive, struck his mind and he received his enlightenment. Seeing the beautifully adorned banner of Indra
S.9
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
| SR No. | 006762 |
| Book Title | Treasury of Jain Tales |
| 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 |