________________
Only One Blunder
343
"The sun had declined to the west. The goddess of the evening was descending slowly and eagerly to embrace the earth and to envelop it in her folds. Queen Lakshmivati went to the temple to worship the Paramatma in the evening but she was thunder-struck when she found that the image of the Lord was not there on the golden throne on which it was placed. She stood petrified. The image that had been made of the Sphatika gem had disappeared. When she realized this, her heart began to palpitate with fear and anguish. She felt at sea and could think of nothing for a few moments. She stood completely shocked and stunned. She looked around in the room but nowhere was there even a sign of the image. She became terribly agitated. She came running out of the temple screaming in fear and agitation.... Alas! someone has stolen the image of the Paramatma". Just then, she noticed Sulekha coming towards the temple with her head bowed and eyes fixed on the ground. Her face was serious and sober. Her gait seemed to suggest something secret and ununderstandable. Hearing Queen Lakshmivati's scream, she came to her running.
"Oh Queen! What happened?" she said in a serious tone, pretending to have been greatly shocked and terrified.
"Oh! Sulekha. We have been robbed of our treasure. Some sinner has gained entry into our temple and has made off with the image of the lord". Anger and agitation were writ large on her face.
"Alas! Which sinner has done this evil thing? He has stolen away the image of the Lord!" Sulekha said pretending to be deeply agitated.
Soon, all the maids and attendants gathered there. The watchmen and the guards came running. They were all shocked and began to wonder who might have committed the theft; and how the image had been stolen; but no one could find out how it had been stolen; and who had stolen it. All were expressing their doubts and suspicions as if releasing arrows into the dark; but no one had any definite idea. Queen Lakshmivati was in
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
