Confession Path to Self Liberation

Author(s): Gunratnasuri
Publisher: Jingun Aradhak Trust

Page 87

the forest. As days passed, the pregnancy progressed. The kulpati (head of ashram) was frightened seeing this and went away leaving the couple.
Rishidatta frequently disappeared... As days passed, 9 months of pregnancy completed & Priyamati gave birth to a beautiful & charming girl. After giving birth, she immediately died. This child was obtained by the blessings of a sage so her father named her “Rishidatta”. Gradually, Rishidatta grew into a young maiden. Harishen was deeply concerned about the protection of his beautiful & charming daughter in this forest, so he told his daughter, “I am giving you the power to disappear. Protect your character & chastity with the help of this skill” Harishen gave the power to
his daughter Rishidatta by which she disappeared occasionally.
Kanakratha's departure for marriage... In Rathamardan town there lived the son of king Hemratha called Kanakratha. King Sunderpani of Kaberipuri sent an invitation to this young, dashing, skillful prince to marry his daughter Rukmini. Honouring the invitation, Hemratha sent his son to Kaberipuri with some soldiers.
Coincidently, the prince arrived in that forest where Rishidatta was living. Being confounded by thirst, the prince sent his soldiers in search of water. They wandered in the forest & finally fetched some after a long time. After quenching his thirst, the prince asked them the reason for being late.
They replied, “O My lord! you will be surprised but it is true. We were wandering in the forest in search of water... about 12 km away. There, we saw a beautiful lake and temple under a banyan tree. A sage practicing penance was sitting under the tree & beside him we saw a beautiful & charming young girl & soon she disappeared. Was it an illusion or an imagination?,
74...Confession: The Path to Self-liberation