________________
KING SHRIPÄL AND MAYANÄ-SUNDARI
vegetables. This penance and meditation are to be observed for nine days, twice a year, during the month of March/April (Chaitra) and September/October (Ashwin).
Accordingly, Mayanä and Shripäl devoutly observed Navapad worship and penance with all its vitality. The result was miraculous: Shripal's skin disease started fading. In due course, he got totally cured of leprosy and regained the skin that he had before contracting the disease. Now he looked like the handsome prince that he had been. Mayanä was very happy and blessed her Karma for that change too. Since the change was apparently brought about by devotion to Navapad and practicing the penance, both of them continued to observe it even after that.
Once, while they were at a temple, queen Rupsundari saw them. She was shocked to see that her daughter
Shripal and Mayană are ardent worshippers of Navapad
was with a handsome man instead of the leper with whom she was married. Mayanä understood her anxiety and explained in detail everything that had happened. Rupsundari was extremely pleased to hear that. She told the king that Mayana's persistence about the theory of Karma had proved right. The king could also see the truth. Deep in his heart he used to curse himself for bringing misery in his lovely daughter's life. Now he too became happy and invited his daughter and son-in-law to stay with him in the palace. Shripäl's real identity was revealed to all, and luckily his mother arrived at the palace and stayed with them.
75
JAIN STORY BOOK For Private & Personal use only
Jain Education international
WWW
r ary.org
