Jain Journal 1985 04

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

Page 24

APRIL, 1985
She was living comfortably at her maternal uncle's palace, waiting for the arrival of her own husband.
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Elsewhere, Pavananjaya fought against Varuna and showed his great skill. He was given the supreme command and inflicted the severest defeat on the adversary. Ravana's generals who had been held captive were now released. Ravana was delighted and charmed with his valour and showered on him the highest panegyric. He took him to Lanka to spend a few days with him as his guest and thereafter, crowned with many laurels, he came back to his own city.
On Pavananjaya's return, there was a great rejoicing in the city. His parents, the king and the queen, received him and blessed him. But when he made enquiries about Anjana, they started looking at each other's face. Pavananjaya could easily guess that there had been something wrong about her during his absence, and he had a feeling that he might never meet her again.
The king had now no alternative but to apprise him all about her. The moment he heard the word 'exile', a pang of sorrow overtook him, in which faded away his joy of victory. Pavananjaya rushed to Mahendrapur but even here the same story was repeated.
In the greatest despair, Pavananjaya moved out on an uncertain search of his dear wife. He searched all the forests he passed through, he searched even the smallest of caves he came across. Now, he was physically exhausted and mentally worn. He had only one resolve to find out Anjana, or to lay down his life in her quest.
Acute love is the obverse of acute hatred. Once Pavananjaya had the acutest hatred for Anjana; but now he had the highest love for her. Without her, life had no meaning for him.
When the news of Pavananjaya's resolve reached the ears of his parents, they came all the way to dissuade him somehow from this resolve. They promised him an all-out search for the lady if Pavananjaya would give but a month's time. The prince gave a smile of despair and said,
"Do you think I havn't done my best to find her ? Had she been alive, I would surely have met her. Then why do I make myself more miserable by waiting for a month ?"