Jailer

Author(s): Abhayshekharsuri, Sujata P Kapadia
Publisher: Harshadray Private Limited

Page 91

However, on reaching, they overheard Anjana's friends having a jestful discussion. What had happened was that Anjana's parents had received marriage proposals from two princes, out of which one was Pavanjay's and the other was Vidyutaprabh's. Vidyutprabh was a 'charamshariri' because of which he was bound to be the most virtuous. Given his shorter life-span, Anjana's marriage was fixed with Pavanjay. Pavanjay was also virtuous and chivalrous. Anjana's female friends were talking amongst themselves and teasing her, "Let Vidyutprabh's life-span be shorter but he is a 'charamshariri' after all. You should get married to him". Pavanjay, who was disguised, overheard this conversation. He was intelligent and was not unaware about restraints observed by noble ladies. He was cognizant of the fact that on such occasions, silence was the most appropriate deportment of a virtuous lady. Therefore, Anjana's silence would not have irked him. However, Karmasatta had planned to penalize Anjana. It made even clever and loving Pavanjay to think otherwise, "Anjana is neither standing up for me nor is she stopping her friends teasing me. Surely, she must be in love with Vidyutaprabh." The result? Anjana's punishment started from the night of the marriage. Pavanjay forsook her. However Anjana was a 'mahasati'! She had abandoned all sorts of ornamentation due to being separated from her husband. She had become lean, her face has become
Charamshariri = a soul who, after attaining keval-jnana, achieves liberation in the same birth
Mahasati = most virtuous and chaste woman, who is devoted to her husband
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