Jain Journal 1985 04

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

Page 11

112
JAIN JOURNAL
to keep these measly five grains ? Whenever he asks for them I will take out from the godown and give him."
Thinking thus she threw away the five grains of rice and got involved in her regular duties.
The second Bhogavati (one who eats) also thought on the same line, but she peeled and cleaned the grains of rice and ate them up.
The third, Raksika (one who protects) thought,
“My father-in-law assembled all his well-wishers and called us in front of them and gave us these grains of rice, there must be some mystery behind it.”
Thinking in this manner she tied the grains of rice in a clean white cloth and put them in her casket.
The fourth, Rohini (one who grows) was very thoughtful and said to herself,
"Surely there is some purpose behind our father-in-law's giving us these grains of rice in the presence of his distinguished well-wishers.”
Thinking thus she called out to her servants. She told them,
"Make a nursery and sow these grains of rice. After heavy rainfall transplant them two or three times into beds made in the fields. Leave them in standing water and build a boundary wall around them and guard them."
When the grain ripened and turned yellow the servants cut it with a sharp sickle. They thrashed and winnowed the grain and after cleaning them filled them in large earthen pots. The pots were sealed and stored in a granary. The harvested grain was resown during the next rainy season and was similarly stored.
During the third and fourth year the process was repeated and as a result there were hundreds of pots filled with rice. Rohini felt very satisfied looking at the pots of rice.
After four years had passed, Dhanya once again invited all his