________________
513
farniiy-member will be unfavourable to you.' She replied ... Dear) There is no place for such evil potions. None is, in the least, guilty. But, for the last several days, Basgavan Vardhamana Swami - by whose supernatural powers the unfathomable ocean of this worldly existence can be easily crossed, and the attaintment of Siva- pada the Abode of Eternal Blessing ) which is beyond the range of one's most desired wishes and which is desti. lule of future re-births is rendered possible, and by whose grace, even very terrible misfortunes disappear easily-does not accept any alms. One cannot easily under-stand what abhigraha (vow) he may have taken. Then, what is the use of your keenness of intellect or of your post as a chief mi. nister if that yow cannot be known." The minister sald :- Dear! Leave aside your sorrow. Tomorrow I shall find out some means by which the vow will be made clear.'
At that time, a female warder named Vijayā of Queen Mrigāvati who was there on some business, heard the conversalion and she marrated the whoic account to Qeen Mrigāvali. On hearing it, the queen was grtatiy distressed, and she sat in a state full of Ecrrow. The king who liappened to come there, asked her:
O queen | how is it that you look so bewildered? The queen replied :-O king! what can I say? You bave lost even polite mauners under the burden of goverurug the kingciom-which is ihe source of a degraded state during the next life that you do not even know where Bhagavān Vardhamāna Swāmi is moving acout and for what sort of alms be is roaming from house to house." Having reproached the king in this way, the queen marrated betore the king the whole acc junt about the abhigraha (vow). Th: king then said :-O queen! Be calm, I shall, any how, try to be familiar with the real state of alfairs tomorrow.' Directly on taking his seat in the council-ball, the king sent for Sugupta minister. The ininister came and having respectfully saluted the king he took his seal at an appropriate place. The king then told him :-" O minister ! Is it befitting you that you even do not care to know that Srannana Bhagavāra Mazhävīra is moving about here Ah! your carelesaless! Ah! your iudifference towa. rds the 'True Religion that it is nearly four months that Bhaga.
65
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org