Jain Journal 1972 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 22

OCTOBER, 1972
The god returned to his abode. Vidyutprabha ate the sweet fruits from that garden and returned home in the evening. The mother asked her to take food but she had no appetite. From now on, she went to the garden in the last quarter of the night and indulged in play.
One day she was lying under a thick tree when Jitasatru, the king of Pataliputra, was passing by that way with his men. He was delighted to see that divine garden and decided to rest there for some time. The king's throne was placed under a tree ; the elephants, horses, bulls and camels were let loose to graze ; the chariots were parked in the shade; and the men were at ease. But the peace of the garden was soon disturbed. As Vidyutprabha woke up and looked around, her cattle were nowhere to be seen. So she rushed towards the garden in search of them. Now, as she moved, the garden too moved and the king and his retinue were moving all topsy turvy. This was a great surprise for the king. He desired to know its secret and learnt that the garden was moving with the girl. So he desired the minister to approach the girl and to request her to go back to her original position, assuring her that his men would help her to find the cattle. The minister did as he was asked to do. So the girl returned to her original position and the garden stopped. The king's men and animals were restored to order again and the king was happy. So said the minister, "Your Majesty! The surprise you experienced was all due to the girl.”
The king agreed and said, "Is she a nymph, a girl from the lower world or a damsel of some god ? She would be a nice acquisition for the palace of a king."
The minister too had a similar feeling. He came back to the girl, told her all about the king and at the right moment he made the proposal of marriage with the king. Vidyutprabha was abashed and said, “High born damsels do not select their own husband ; this is bestowed on them by their parents. If you like, you may converse with my father. His name is Agnisarma and he lives in the nearby village."
The minister went to her father and narrated the whole thing. This was a moment of great joy for Agnisarma too. He was conducted to the presence of the king. Delay was now unbearable to the king. So the marriage ceremony was performed then and there according to the gāndharva rites. The king changed her name, and because of the garden cover on her head, she was henceforth to be called Aramasobha (meaning comfort and grace). To remove the Brahmin's poverty, the king bestowed on him the revenue from twelve villages.