Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 113

When both the children attained youth, the parents thought that the two children were suitable for each other and got them married with great pomp and show. The very next day, when playing the traditional game of dice, the friends of Kuberadatta interchanged Kuberadatta's and Kuberadatt's rings with each other. Kuberadatt noticed that her ring was exactly like that of Kuberdatta's. She was curious and surprised that the make of the rings was exactly the same and there was not even a slight difference in the script of the names also. She thought that there must be some very strong reason behind this. Trying to recollect the past, Kuberdatt started thinking, “So far I never heard of any of our ancestors with this name: besides I am not experiencing any intimate feeling towards Kuberadatta, which a wife should normally feel towards her husband".
She was convinced beyond doubt that there is some deep secret behind all this. With this thought in her mind she placed Kuberadatta's ring back on his finger, where her own ring was already there.
Seeing the similarity of the two rings, the same doubt cropped up even in Kuberadatta's mind. He returned Kuberdatt 's ring to her and took his own ring and approached his foster mother. Binding her under oath he asked her, “Beloved mother! Tell me the truth, who am I? And how did I get this ring? Even Kuberadatt has the same type of ring with the same letters engraved on it".
The mother narrated the entire incident revealing that in reality he was not her own son and that her husband found him in a basket along with a bundle full of precious stones and the ring.
After listening to the entire matter, Kuberadatta was clear in his mind that Kuberdatta was his own sister. With remorse he complained, "Mother, knowing pretty well that we were siblings, why did you carry out this indecent and dishonourable act of getting us married?”
The merchant's wife also repented. She said, "Son! Even though we knew the truth, we proceeded with the immoral deed, blinded by delusion. But do not grieve. You are guilty of just getting married and did not commit any sin. Let bygones be bygones. I will send back
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