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PART IV STORIES DURING BHAGAWAN MAHAVIR
the other servants not to tell Dhanävah where Chandanbälä was or she would do the same to them. Then, Moolä left and went to her parent's house. When Dhanävah returned from his trip, he did not see Moola or Chandanbälä. He asked the servants about them. The servants told him that Moola was at her parent's house, but they did not tell him where Chandanbälä was because they were scared of Moolä. He asked the servants in a worried tone, "Where is my daughter Chandanbälä? Please speak up and tell the truth." Still nobody said a word. The merchant felt very upset and did not know what to do. After a few minutes, an older servant thought, "I am an old woman and will soon die anyway. What is the worst thing Moolä can do to me?" So, out of compassion for Chandanbälä and sympathy for the merchant, she told him everything that Moola had done to Chandanbälä. She took the merchant to the room where Chandanbälä was locked up. Dhanävah unlocked the door and saw Chandanbälä. Shocked, he said, "My dear daughter, I will get you out of here. You must be hungry. Let me find some food for you." He went to the kitchen to find food for her, but found no food except for some boiled lentils in a pan. The merchant took the pan of lentils to Chandanbälä. He told her that he was going to get a blacksmith to cut the heavy shackles and left. Meanwhile, Chandanbälä was thinking about how her life had changed. She started wondering how fate can change a person's life from riches to almost helplessness. Chandanbälä decided that she would like to make an offering of food to a monk or nun before eating. She got up, walked to the door, and stood there with one foot outside and one inside the house. To her surprise, she saw Lord Mahävir walking towards her and tears of happiness rolled down her face. She said, "Oh revered Lord, please accept this food." Lord Mahävir had taken a vow to fast until a person who met certain conditions offered him food. His conditions were: The person offering the food:
• She should be a princess • She should be bald
She should be in shackles She should offer boiled lentils, with one foot inside and the other foot outside the house
Bhagawan Mahävir accepting alms from She should have been fasting
Chandanbälä • She should have tears in her eyes Lord Mahävir looked at her and noticed that Chandanbälä met all of his requirements. Mahävir swami stepped forward to accept the alms because all of his conditions had been met. Chandanbälä felt very happy to be able to offer the lentils to Lord Mahävir. As Lord Mahävir had fasted for five months and twenty-five days, heavenly beings celebrated the end of Lord Mahävir's fast. By magical power, Chandanbälä's shackles broke, her hair grew back, and she was dressed as a princess. There was music and celebration that drew the attention of King Shatänik. He came to see Chandanbälä with his family, ministers, and many other people. Sampul, a servant from her father's kingdom, recognized Chandanbälä. He walked towards her, bowed, and broke out in tears. King Shatänik asked, "Why are you crying?"
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