Jain Ramayana Part 1

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

Page 58

JAIN RAMAYAN
by giving them the gifts of food, clothes and money. He got the city of Pushpantar decorated so that it looked like the queen of cities. He gave very valuable presents to workers and officials: Kaikasi began to take great care of the child in her womb. In course of time, her thoughts, feelings and activities: began to reveal clearly the nature of the child that was going to be born to her.
Great changes appeared in her propensities and actions. Her words and utterances which used to be soft and tender formerely became stern and violent. She began to behave wildly and cruelly with everyone. The servants and the attendants began to shudder with fear at the very sight of her. If anyone made any mistake, his days would come to an end. If anyone slighted her commands. it was a veritable invitation to the god of death. As the child in her womb kept developing, her body also developed and bloomed. A tremendous change appeared in her physical strength, stolidity and beauty. Though there was a large mirror in her chamber, she did not look into it even by a mistake. She always carried a sword in her hands. Her face instead of being tender and sweet, was haughty, arrogant and awe-inspiring. Now, she always looked at her face as reflected on the shining blade of her sharp sword.
She did not like to sit upon the ground at any time. She always sat upon a golden throne, like an emperor, in an overbearing posture. There appeared a peculiar kind of wilfulness and pride in her voice and actions. She loudly reprimanded the members of her family, without any reason. At all times, she uttered heroic war-cries. She completely discarded all her politeness and discernment. She walked with her body straightened and with her head held high in a haughty twist; and when she sat down, she assumed a posture of pride and conceit. She had an impulse to trample upon the heads of enemies. She began to dream of decimating masses of human beings and to bathe in their hot and steaming blood.
Months and seasons passed. The time came for delivering the child.