Jain Journal 1973 04

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

Page 28

APRIL, 1973
185
she was plunged into a deep sea of sorrow and misery, and reposing her head on her hand, overcome by painful reflections, and casting her eyes on the ground, she was immersed in anxious thoughts. And in the palace of king Siddhartha too, the concert of drums and instruments, the clapping of hands, dramatical performances, and merry-making by the people,-all came to a stop, and they felt dejected, deprived and restless. 92
Then Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira, having known about the anxious reflections in the mind of the mother, moved a little on the side. 93
Feeling her child in the womb quivering, trembling, moving and stiring, Ksatriyani Trisala became happy, pleased, and joyful, highly delighted in her mind; her heart was throbbing with glee. Quoth she: “Nay, forsooth, my progeny-in-womb is not, stolen, my progeny is not dead, my progeny is not fallen, nor is he lost. Formerly it move not, but now it moves.” So saying, she became pleased, happy and joyful, highly delighted in her mind, her heart throbbing with glee, and in this state she passed her days. Then Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira, lodged in the womb, made the following resolve: 'It will not be worthwhile on my part to court the life of a homeless monk by giving up the life of a householder, and by undergoing a tonsure, so long as my parents are alive.' 94
From that time on Ksatriyani Trisala took bath, made offerings performed auspicious rites and expiatory acts, adorned her body with all ornaments : took neither very cold not very hot, not very bitter, pungent, astringent, sour or sweet, nor very rough, wet or dry, but pleasant for different seasons food, wear, perfumes and flowers, because of which were kept aside sickness, sorrow, faint, fear and fatigue ; ate only such food as was helpful for the progeny-in-womb, adequate, nourishing, able to support the embryo, consistent with time (season) and place; lay on a soft and comfortable couch and sat on a soft and comfortable seat, untouched by others; strolled on places agreeable and delightful to the mind, with all her desires honoured and fulfilled in details, and with meticulous care, none of her desires being overlooked, and all her desires being separately fulfilled one by one ; enjoying joy in sleep, joy in living, joy in sitting, joy in reposing, joy in decorating her skin, in brief, being the mistress of all joys, she carried the weight of the embryo. 95
At that time, in that period, in the second fortnight of the first month of the summer season, on the thirteenth day of the bright half of Caitra,