________________
KREMSER: JOURNEY TO THE HOME IN THE LOTUS
The firethorn of pride was no more.
"Silken lady!"
A monk was coming up from the mossy, gray deepness. "Feast! for this unfed monk of hollow bones!"
Of a sudden, Rajimati felt a panic at her throat. -Creepers had held uncut over the cave entry, Reassured, she had slipped out of a slashing rain, She had removed her garment, had tossed back her hair. "I-", her voice broke, "I am bride to Aristanemi."
"And I am his brother, Rathanemi," the monk cried. "He abandons you, I abandon my vows for you, Firestorm! as again you drop your moisty robe!"
"Shame to your face!"
Rajimati clung to her robe like to a temple pillar. "Your vows make you of a solitary turn,
Break vows in this life, reap bitter in the coming life, Would you reap bitter for this trice of lechery? Monk! With this unguarded nun, you have free choice, Damn your soul or, follow after your godly brother."
Rathanemi hesitated, the murky gray gathered up to him. She froze in panic, He will overrun me in the cave! In slow time, he said, "Voice of truth in your mouth."
Rajimati found herself under a flecky sky.
She began to feel an embrace, a warmth of mother's shawl, Rain clouds were breaking, the sun hung copper at midday.
And so passed a long measure of years.
Rajimati was resting in the amber heat of midafternoon, But one thin bird was singing in the idle silence. All the while, she had sought testimonials of Good Monk, No whisper, she thought sadly, no whisper on the wind.
Nearby sat a woman with city eyes.
"Heed what the Wayshower said to me," she said. "Woman, why do you live in your inner city of deceit? Like to you, the animals dwell mid treachery, Yet these innocents stay trusting and trustworthy,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
5
www.jainelibrary.org
