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54
JAINA STORIES
The rest of the story is well-knowa to you You did not deviate from your resolve. You are really praiseworthy and honorable. How lucky am I and how lucky is my city to have in thee a wife and a queen, acquired so unexpectedly."
The process koew pot if it was a dream or reality. She could not rely on her audio-visual organs, but this much she was confident about that purity always shines She had a feeling that it was her purity incarnate that stood before her in body and flesh. The princess conveyed her gratefulness to the divide person, her husband, and acknowledged this turs in her luck to be the outcome of karma.
The two now happily lived there for some time. One day, Manichuda said to his wife :
"My dear, I want to see my father-in-law, your father, and teach him a lesson for all that he did to you. Can you suggest hoor best this should be done ?
"My dear, you make him appear before you dressed as a peasant. That will crush his pride for ever."
This was done By dint of his divine power, Mans chuda raised a mighty army and laid seize of the city of his father-in-lave Then he sent a messenger to King Ripumardada to tell him in unmistakable terms to dress like a peasant and submit to him, failing which he would be duly punished.
The king became red at once and was about to accept the challenge, but the minister prevailed upon him and said,
"Your Majesty : One should act with due caution even when the adversary is your equal, the more so when, as in the present case, he is a superior. I think, in the interest of the kingdom and in that of our own, you should act as the messenger desires.”
The king realised the gravity of the situation and softened Now, dressed as a peasant, he came to meet King Manichuda Manichuda, however, fittingly received him and immediately gave him a change of dress. Soon the king's eyes fell on his own daughter who was seated on the