Jain Journal 1985 04

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

Page 54

154
Said Sthulabhadra, "I have no objection, but what about your costly utensils..."
"Fear not. I will see to them."
JAIN JOURNAL
"What fear? If there were any fear I wouldn't have come here. Still, we have to submit to some rules of conduct..."
But before he could complete his sentence burst out Kosa, "Where were your rules for those twelve years ?" It was not a querry, but an insinuation. "I am not going to take lesson on rules of conduct from you. I know you thoroughly, Sir."
Said Sthulabhadra, "I was then in dark. Due to attachment like fish in water I was deep in your love. I had forgotten who I was? From where I had come ?"
"Then after receiving this wonderful knowledge why have you come into this house of ignorance? Or is there any desire still lurking in any corner of your heart? My love will not shower white roses but will greet you with their thorns. Why haven't you thought of that ?"
"No, Kosa. I have known the truth. I have come here to take you on that path."
Kosa turned her face away. She said, "Let us see."
A soft smile spread on the lips of Sthulabhadra.
Kosa herself took his meal to him in a golden dish. The dancing hall began to vibrate with the sweet tinkling of her bangles and her anklets. The wind became heavy with the dreamy fragrance of her scented hair.
Placing the dish before him she said, "O ye deep in meditation, your food has been brought by your maid."
When Sthulabhadra opened his eyes he saw Kosa in her most beautiful attirement. There was a pink dot of kumkum on her smooth white forehead, fine lines of black stibium in her lotus-like eyes. On her breast was streaming down beads of moon-beam, a costly necklace of pearls once given by him. Her ear-rings were of fiery rubies. The golden fringe of her red bodice was scintillating as if with unquenchable passion.