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marriage to him. When he asked the father of the girl how he could take such a risk of marrying his daughter to a total stranger, the Brahmin explained that it was all so preordained. An astrologer had said that a man in such a cloth with the sri vatsa mark concealed, accompanied by a friend, who came to eat the food cooked by the girl would be her husband. After the wedding was over Varadhanu reminded the prince that they had to go away. After giving the necessary explanation to the bride Brahmadatta departed with his friend. They realised that king Dirgha's men had started combing the whole area to arrest Brahmadatta. So they went by narrow lanes to a thick forest. Brahmadatta was tired and he rested under a tree and Varadhanu went out in search of food and water but Dirgha's men caught hold of Varadhanu but Brahmadatta managed to escape.
For three long days Brahmadatta wandered on and on, hungry, thirsty and weary. He met an old monk who conducted him to his monastery where Brahmadatta explained the full and truthful story of his life so far to the head of the community of monks. The chief was kind-hearted and told Brahmadatta that he was his father's uncle and that Brahmadatta was free to live there as long as he liked. He taught him many things including martial arts. One day Brahmadatta encountered a wild elephant and in his fight to tame
down he lost his moorings altogether and wandered away towards an old ruined town on the bank of a rivulet. He was curious about this town and was looking around everywhere when he saw a bower of bamboos with a shield and sword lying near it. Out of fun he tried the sword on the bamboo-bower but the stroke chopped off the head of a living being. The lips were quivering on that pretty looking face. Brahmadatta was much alarmed and confused. When he looked inside the bower he saw the headless body hanging upside down over a small fire. The man whose head Brahmadatta had cut off was obviously doing some sort of penance. Brahmadatta felt terribly distressed. He saw further away a fine park with a palatial building in it. This seven-storeyed mansion was surrounded by Asokatrees. Brahmadatta was curious to know whose residence it could be. So he climbed on to the top floor and saw a magnificent young woman with such beauty that he thought she was a fairy. He
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| 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 |