________________
256
JAIN RAMAYAN
day. She placed the two portraits side by side and began to compare them; but each surpassed the other. Each seemed to excel the other. The Queen, Hridaysundari was caught in a confounding conflict. She wondered which she should choose and which she should reject. She was in a dilemma. Unable to resolve her conflict, she placed both the portraits, in the hands of the King. The King also was in the same dilemma. He too was caught in the same conflict. Unable to do anything, he too remained still like a stone-image for sometime. Soon, the Chief Minister came to know of the conflict into which the King and the Queen had fallen. He understood the minds of the King and the Queen. He said to the official who had brought a portrait on the previous day;
“Yesterday, you brought a portrait to the court. Now, you please give us all the details you know about that prince”.
"Oh you ocean of grace ! Yesterday, I brought to the court a portrait. It is the portrait of Vidyutprabha, a Vidyadhar prince. He is the noble son of Hiranyabh, the Vidyadhar King. He is the apple of his parents' eyes; the darling son of Queen Suman and the cynosure of all the eyes in his Kingdom. He belongs to the highest rank in beauty, birth, family, virtues and in prosperity. Even his portrait displays his incomparable grace and fascinating features. If the portrait itself is so fascinating, he should be more charming. This is more than evident. You yourself know : "The first in beauty are the first in virtues”. You can see that the prince has a countenance which radiates internal excellence. It is a perfect form, nobly planned. It is only by means of a person's physical features that we can make out his ethical excellence. I think that is all I have got to say." Having said this, he sat in his place.
After that, the Chief Minister made a sign and suggested to the other official of Mahendra, to give details about the portrait he had brought.
The follower stood up; bowed to King Mahendra; and began his narration.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
