________________
Finding her father deeply anxious, she advised him not to worry, but to open an inn (Serai). She said "I have marked lotus-signs on his soles while choosing him. I shall, therefore, be able to recognise him when he comes here."
Her father then opened an inn. After some time Ardrakumar put up at that inn. She saw the signs and cried out “Well! I have found him now!"
Hearing these words, Ardrakumar was stunned. He had, however, forgotten the girl and her choice. But, soon, the garden-incident flashed in his mind. All his dreams about monkhood evaporated and he yearned frr hei, and took her as his wife.
After a few years, he found that this wor!! was meaningless for him and yet he could not give up his wife.
When she came to know that her husband was desirous of leaving her, she took to spinning yarn on a spinning-wheel. Seeing his mother spinning, her little son asked her. “Why do you spin, mother?” “Since your father is leaving us, this is the only means of our support", she said. Hearing this, the little boy said, “Mother, don't worry. I shall keep him with this yarn, however weak it may be". And indeed that is what happened.
*Ardrakumar could not loosen himself from filial bonds. Hence, he decided to be with the family for twelve years more.
After this period he left the home, as a serpent sloughs off his skins. Now he was on his path of renunciation. As he
27
