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JAIN RAMAYAN
nook and corner of the world. Cool breezes were blowing, wafting the fragrance of the rarest of flowers, bringing sweet comfort to the heart. After having completed his duties for the day, he sat at the window of his palace taking rest. His mind was ranging freely through the world of his own imagination. The banks of the lake Manas sarovar had become lonely and desolate. The soft waves of the lake again and again rose as if to embrace the banks. Just at that moment his mind was drawn towards the banks of the lake from where he heard an anguished cry of lamentation. Shocked by the cry, he looked around wondering who was crying but he could see no one; yet he could hear someone crying in great anguish. When he closely observed the banks of the lake he heard a Chakravaka bird lamenting in a pitiable manner, on the bank of the lake.
Though the delicate lotus stalks were within sight, it did not make any attempt to peck at them. The melodies of the waves rippling on the deep lake could not bring any solace to its heart. Even the rainbow hues that decked the horizons could not cheer its heart. The Chakravaka was crying in anguish on account of separation from its mate.
When Pavananjay saw this sight of the agony of the bird his hard heart melted away: it became soft and tender; and he began to think; "Throughout the day this Chakravaka bird keeps sporting with her mate. They are never asunder throughout the day; yet in the night, not finding her mate, near her, she keeps crying thus in agony and anguish. How deeply is she agònised by the separation from her lover! If this bird which lacks the faculty of reasoning can thus experience such anguish on account of the separation from her lover for a night what should be the extent of anguish experienced by Anjana who has had to experience the anguish of separation from her husband for years ?”
After twenty-two long years, today, for the first time, there arose in his heart compassion for Anjana. Her sinful Karmas had caused that terrible anguish to her for twenty-two years. Now, probably, the effect of those sinful Karmas had been
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