Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 1
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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Page 340
________________ As Candan grew up she became more beautiful and one day it so happened that seeing her immense beauty M 1 became envious and suspicious. She thought – “I hope my husband does not marry her, attracted to her; in that case I will be done for. Before the daughter' gets the feeling of a wife in his mind, it is better to get her out of the way forever.” During this period, Dhan vaha went out of town for some days. M I called over a barber and shaved off Candan 's hair. Then, chaining her hands and feet, shut her up in the godown. She also warned everybody to keep the matter secret. For three days, Candan was hungry and thirsty. The moment the merchant got back, he asked about Candan . Seeing every servant quiet, he got a suspicion. He screamed in anger at them to tell him the truth. An old servant took some courage and told him everything. Opening the doors of the godown, the merchant started crying seeing her state. Seeing Candan 's face pale on account of hunger and thirst he ran towards the kitchen, and not finding anything else, brought some soaked urd dal in a winnowing basket for her, saying “my daughter, satisfy your hunger with this; till I return with an ironsmith." In spite of dying of hunger, Candan thought – “Am I so unfortunate that I will have to eat without feeding a guest?” She looked at the door for a guest, when she saw a mendicant at the door with the brilliance of a crore rays of the Sun, with a brilliantly lit face and beautiful, well built body. She had tears of joy in her eyes. Her face lit up like the moon on a full moon night in winter and she brought the winnowing basket in her hands. With difficulty she came out at the threshold, her feet chained, and politely requested the guest - "Lord, although these urd dal is not suitable, please accept them, doing this helpless woman a favour.” For a moment, the guest saw everything carefully. Seeing the guest leave, Candan cried out -'what can be more unfortunate that a kalpa tree is returning from my home?” Tears fell from her eyes. The guest immediately extended his hands. Delighted Candan gave him all the udada d la in the winnowing basket on his palms. That guest was none other than Lord Mah v ra who was seeking alms having taken a specific resolve, for five months and twenty-five days. Seeing all his conditions met, he accepted alms from Candan . The 340

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