________________
190
JAIN RAMAYAN
hutments of others. Destruction is necessary for creation. Someone's ruin is necessary for somebody else's progress. Somebody's death brings happiness to somebody else. Somebody's lamentation is necessary for somebody else's jubilation.
After much hesitation, Sagar raja decided to find out a way to humiliate Madhuping. At once, he sent for his court-priest Vishwabhuti. When the priest came, he said :
"Vishwabhuti ! Today I have to confide a secret matter to you. I have to place in your hands an important responsibility”.
"Dear King! Give your commands. Your servant Vishvabhuti is always ready to receive orders from you and carry them out. I will carry out your commands even if they are hard and difficult”.
"Of course, there can be nothing impossible for a man of genius like you, yet....”
"Oh king! Whatever this duty may be; however impossible it may be, I will carry it out risking my life”.
When King Sagar raja heard the reply given by his courtpriest, he felt as though a new ray of hope flashed through the darkness of his despair.
"Oh you learned man! You must compose a great book under the title, Nripalakshana samhita in which you must describe the various essential qualities of a king. You must describe such qualities as are found in me and as are totally absent in prince Madhuping. Those qualities which you describe should not be present in Madhuping even to the least extent. You must compose this book by tomorrow and those who read this book should know that Madhuping is unfit to be a king".
The court-priest saluted the king politely and said : “Your Excellency, I shall do so".
The next day, the royal court assembled. All the kings, princes, Chiefs and potentates who had come for the Swayamvar were present. In the middle of the court on a
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
