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LOYALTY TO FAITH
(Adopted from YASASTILAKA) Once on a dark night Värişena, the to send for her daughters-in-law. They son of Sreņika, the king of Magadha was were soon ushered to their presence absorbed in deep meditation in a deso- resplendent in their dress and adornlate cremation ground. Meanwhile, at ment, and lovely with the fresh beauty midnight, Mrgavega stole a costly neck- of youth. Vārişeņa then requested his lace belonging to a merchant's wife at mother to send for the wife of his friend the instance of his mistress, a courtesan Puspadanta ; but during the long period named Magadhasundari. Pursued by of her separation from her husband, she the police, he flung the necklace, in front had lost her beauty and youth, and when of Värisena and disappeared under she appeared before them, her ugly, cover of darkness. The police finding emaciated and worn out figure made a the necklace lying near by, suspected sad contrast to the charming ladies who Vārişeņa of the theft and reported the were standing beside her. The sight matter to the king, who was inexorable was too much for Puşpadanta to bear, in the dispensation of justice and imme- and he asked for leave to depart. In this diately ordered his son to be punished way Vārişena confirmed his friend in and tortured as a thief. Värişena calm- the resolution to maintain his vow and ly suffered the indignities inflicted upon both thereafter continued their austerihim eliciting by his fortitude the praise ties together. Like Värisena, every man and admiration of the gods, and soon should strengthen the loyalty of his after renounced the world and became fellowman to his faith. an ascetic. Pușpadanta, the minister's
PHILANTHROPY son, was his intimate friend from childhood, and Vārişeņa prevailed upon him King Auddāyana was famous for his to become as ascetic like himself. Puşpa- - philanthropic actions. In order to test danta, however, found it difficult to his piety, a certain god assumed the forget his beautiful newly married wife form of a religious mendicant, a lothSudati in spite of his vow. Twelve some leper with stinking and decaying years rolled by, and still her memory limbs, and came to the king's house and haunted him day and night. Värisena asked for food. The king received him fearing that he would one day renounce with open arms and personally waited his vow and return to his wife, hit upon upon and treated him to sumptuous a stratagem and paid a visit to his meal. Unfortunately, the leper felt sick, mother, Celini, accompanied by his and as he lay in a mass of vomitted food, friend. The queen received both of the king raised and washed him with them cordially and Vārişeņa asked her his own hands wiped his body with a
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| SR No. | 536283 |
| Book Title | Jain Yug 1959 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Sohanlal M Kothari, Jayantilal R Shah |
| Publisher | Jain Shwetambar Conference |
| Publication Year | 1959 |
| Total Pages | 524 |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Jain Yug, & India |
| File Size | 34 MB |