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

Page 78

5. SANATKUMARA
The whole of the city of Hastinapura broke out into big commotion one day in the month of spring. No wonder. The prince of the kingdom of Kurujāngala, the son of king Asvasena of the Kuru family and his wife Sahadev, the fourth universal sovereign was reported missing. That day he had gone with his companions and friends to amuse himself in the park outside the town. They had several equestrian games and Sanatkumāra who was riding his horse called Jaladhikallola was racing with his friends but his horse suddenly got into full speed and in a moment went clean out of everybody's sight. His friends reported the matter to the king who quickly set out on the trail. In the meanwhile, a fierce wind sprang up and the tracks of the horse were effaced. Mahendrasimha, the prince's close friend, requested the king to return to the palace and promised that he would go out in search of the prince and would return only when he had obtained full information about him.
Mahendrasimha accordingly went far into the forest, did not hesitate to enter the dreadful and dark parts of the forest. He roamed around for one full year without any trace of the prince but he would not give up. One day when he went a certain distance inside the forest, he heard cries of cranes and smelt the fragrance of lotus flowers. He felt a little hopeful and went in the direction of the cries of the birds and saw a great lake. He also heard sweet sounds of singing and notes of a flute. He was surprised to see such a beautiful scene. He went nearer the lake and his eyes opened wide with joy when he saw his friend Sanatkumāra in the midst of a company of young women. He felt so much astonishec