Jain Ramayana Part 2

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

Page 32

20
JAIN RAMAYAN
could he give replies ? Even if he wanted to give a reply, what could he say? His head was cracking with pain and sorrow.
es had grown red with continuous weeping. His white and bright face had become pale and gloomy with distress and despair. Yet he had to give a reply, with great difficulty. In a voice shaken with emotion, he said : “Dear Sir! No calamity has occurred. No unhappy event has taken place ..."
"Then, why are you gloomy ? Why is your face depressed ? The members of the marriage-party seem to be in a state of despair and sorrow. What is the matter ?” The Chief Minister said unable to control his impatience and eagerness.
"My elder brother Vajrabahu has received initiation into the Sadhudharma”, and Purandhar began to weep like a child. His voice was choked with emotion and his body began to shiver.
"Has our prince become a Sadhu ? and what happened to princess Manorama ?"
"She too adopted the path of Charitradharma."
- "What do you say? I cannot believe it. All this must be false. Can such a thing ever happen ?"
“Dear Chief Minister! What I have said is absolutely true".
"Then what about the twenty five princes ? Did they go away to their cities".
“No, sir. No. Those twenty-five princes and Udayasundar also became Sadhus."
"Oh God! What an unhappy thing has taken place !” The old and revered Chief Minister widened his eyes with horror.
At once, the news reached the ears of King Vijayaraj, the king of Ayodhya. He was greatly upset to hear the news. His affectionate heart broke to pieces. He became unconscious and fell on the ground. When the king fell down unconscious, the palace resounded with cries of distress. Queen Hemachula came runn