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APRIL, 1985
109
throne and go to him. Pradyota believed in my comforting words, and you all know how he has helped to fortify the city. But now he has become impatient-tomorrow is the last day. Pradyota desires my body ; therefore, tomorrow you will please carry my body to him my soul shall go to my departed husband.”
Queen Mrgavati's word astounds and stuns all who are in the court. A murmur of applause begins to be heard. But the proposal of the queen's suicide dejects and over-whelms all, and they discuss if there was any other means that could be adopted under the circumstances. At this stage, a townsman rises and addresses these words to the queen,
"If, instead of committing the great sin of suicide, the queen seeks initiation into Mahavira's order of nuns, it will be a double solution."
The meeting is adjourned for the next day, in order to consider this proposal. Where is Lord Mahavira now, and how one can go to him, becomes also a subject for consideration.
VI
With the break of day, news reaches Mrgavati that Lord Mahavira, is coming towards Kausambi. Extremely delighted at the news, Mrgavati prepares to go to see and make her obeisance to the lord.
To Pradyota's camp also come two reports together : one, that Lord Mahavira is coming, and the other, that an unfriendly king has started on an invasion of Ujjain. Pradyota makes up his mind to return to Ujjain at once, but on second thought, decides to stay for a day more for the sake of seeing Mahavira and taking away Mrgavati with him.
Lord Mahavira is staying with his disciples in a garden called Candravatarana Caitya on the outskirts of Kausambi. Many men have come from Kausambi and the neighbouring towns and villages to gaze at his serene, graceful figure and drink the nectar of his teachings. Queen Mrgavati and king Pradyota have also come and taken their proper seats there. Mahavira's tranquil and radiant face, his mellifluous words and uncommon personality have exerted a profound influence on the minds of the assembled people. An atmosphere of peace and purity has been created all around. Gods, men, beasts and birds, all, forgetting their mutual animosities, are drunk with the nectar of Lord Mahavira's words. He explains in his forceful and moving words the immortality of the soul, the bondage of karma, the vanity of the world, the agony of life and death, and the release from this mortal agony by non-violence (ahimsa), self-discipline and austerities. The gathering listens, spell-bound. It appears that all lower passions, like attraction and repulsion, have disappeared from the minds of all men and creatures assembled there.
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