________________
The Abduction Of Janak
307
that Sita will marry you. Having given this assurance to his son, Chandragati proceeded towards his counsel-chamber. He was silent for sometime and then he fell into deep thoughtfulness. The sun had already set. King Chandragati called the guard and said, “Bring Chapalagati at once here." The guard retreated and within a short time he came accompanied by Chapalagati. Chapalagati entered the chamber; bowed to the king and sat down. Chapalagati was the head of spies in Ratanupur.
“You have to go to Mithila at once," Chandragati said commencing a conversation.
"I will carry out your orders.”
"Your duty is not only to go to Mithila but to abduct King Janaka secretly and to bring him here."
For a moment, Chapalagati kept staring at the king. He wondered, "Abducting King Janak, but why ?"
King Chandragati, trying to clear Chapalagati's doubts said again, “We have to abduct king Janak but with due honour! You must bring him to Ratanupur as our specially honoured guest.” But Chandragati's clarification only caused a greater mystification in the mind of Chapalagati. The King's clarification brought about many doubts in the mind of Chapalagati. "If wę should bring King Janak, with honour here; why should we abduct him ? Where is the need to honour a man whom we have to abduct? If King Janak should be brought here with honour we can as well invite him to visit our palace and bring him openly in an airship. But why all this mess ?” Seeing Chapalagati lost in thought, King Chandragati laughed and said.
"First, you abduct and bring King Janak here. Then you will know our purpose.”
Chapalagati saluted the King and went away. He went home; changed his dress; took the necessary weapons and then proceeded towards Mithila by his airship.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
