Jain Journal 1985 04

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

Page 16

APRIL, 1985
joy knew no bounds to acquire such a qualified lady for his royal household. He heartily blessed the couple.
117
It was the first night after the marriage, and Anjana was awake for Pavananjaya's arrival. A quarter of the night passed, but Pavananjaya did not come. Anjana's expectation now gave way to anxiety. She had in her mind a nice picture of her future life, but that had started fading out. She had never dreamt that even such a calamity might fall on her. The night thus passed and the sun was up. There was joy everywhere except in Anjana's apartment. Her only companion was Vasantatilaka and none else to whom she could narrate the sorrow of her heart.
Thus days passed.
Anjana tried to improve her relations with Pavananjaya by sending him food or gift parcels received from her parents but he never accepted them, only threw them out in a very discourteous manner.
Anjana scanned her own conduct, and in it she found nothing that could be offensive in any way.
By nature, Anjana was serious and grave. She told her friend at last,
"At this moment, it seems, bad time is upon me, and anything I may do now will go against me. So I must wait for this phase to pass out."
In this manner, long twelve years passed and there was no understanding between the two, nor did the two ever meet.
Once a special emissary from king Ravana of Lanka came to Ratnapuri with the following urgent message for king Prahlada,
"King Varuna has refused to accept the overlordship of king Ravana because of which the latter has declared a war against him. King Varuna's son is very powerful. He has already taken some of Ravana's best generals and war-lords into captivity. So Ravana desires all his friendly kings to come to his assistance at once."
The emissary was cordially received. The king assured him all possible help to such a great friend and agreed to despatch a strong contingent of army at once. King Prahlada himself prepared to go at the head of the army, but Pavananjaya prevailed upon him with a request to let him go