Jain Journal 1985 04

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

Page 30

APRIL, 1985
stuck in her tears. Meanwhile Srimati's parents also came running and pleaded with him, "O revered one! If you do not accept her as your wife she will take her own life. Without you her life is barren and it has been so since the day of that fateful game which she and her friends had played."
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Monk's heart melted at the knowledge of Srimati's love for him. Ardrakakumar agreed to marry Srimati. Thus he started for one destination, but reached another. It may be that they were in love in their previous life which was casting its shadow in this life.
Very soon Srimati was blessed with the birth of a son. His sweet laughter now began to resound in the house. Time went by. The child was now five years old. Ardrakakumar was again in deep thought. He was almost repentant on moving away from the path of sadhana and getting entangled in the bondage of mundane love and affection. Simultaneously he remembered the boundless love and affection of his parents which he had willingly spurned for the goal which he had yet to achieve. He had left a home only to have another! After crossing the ocean he was drowned in a pond. He told his wife of his decision of renouncing the world.
When Srimati heard of it she was in tears. But nothing, not even her love could now change his decision. He remained firm on his resolve.
Srimati was at her spinning wheel. Seeing his mother spinning thread, the child asked, "Mother, what are ye doing ?"
"My son", she replied, "I am spinning the threads. Your father has decided to renounce the world. So some work has to be found for our maintenance. And what else could I do but spin the threads." Srimati began to sob.
The child was bewildered. So he asked again, "Mother, why is father leaving us? Is he angry with us ?"
"No, my son, he is not angry. But he wants to be a monk. He will beg for his food and do his sädhanā."
"But mother, never shall I let my father go like this leaving us behind. I will go and bind him up. How will he go then?"