Jain Ramayana Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 331

The Mockery of Fate
319
“Dear Chief Minister! I greatly honour you. You are like my father, but do not be misled by false evidence and do not try to prove that she is innocent. Do not try to whitewash her character which has been stained. I knew very well that without some solid, valid, reason my son Pavananjay would not have treated her thus with contempt and dislike. He has not told us what he knew about her lewd nature and immoral character. He must have secretly tested her character and he must have found some reason, some evidence; and that was why he adopted such a harsh and bitter attitude towards her. Added to all this at the time of his march of victory he reprimanded her and slighted her. Under these circumstances, how can we believe that he came here that very night and had a happy union with her! How can we believe that he stayed with her for a night and went away without meeting anyone else ? Her story is absolutely false. It is nothing but a cock and bull story”.
Queen Ketumati stuck to her guns.
"Oh Queen! then do you suggest that we should expel her from our city when she is pregnant, when another life is taking shape in her womb ? Don't you think that banishing her now in this condition is an inhuman act? If we turn her out in this condition will it not bring disgrace to our royal family? Can we face the world afterwards ? We cannot say for certain that. Pavananjay has not visited her that night? Even the Vidhata (creator) does not know when a man's mind changes. When that is so how can we, ordinary mortals know it? According to my deep scrutiny and examination of all the circumstances Anjana is absolutely pure and innocent and Pavananjay stayed with her on that night. Not only this; he spent a whole night with her happily. Noble queen! You must have a little patience. Where is the need for a mirror to see one's palm. The whole thing will be clear when Pavananjay comes back”.
King Prahlad was silently listening to the conversation between the Chief Minister and the queen, with deep concentration. He thought deeply for a while and said;