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326
JAIN RAMAYAN
“My dear queen! Why did you take such a rash step ? Have I dishonoured you in any way or has any injustice been done to you? Whatever it may be, tell me the truth...." Naturally his eyes welled up with tears.
"My lord ! You sent the holy water to the other queens; but you ignored me”, Queen Aparajita began to weep bitterly.
Just then, the old attendant entered the chamber with the gold vessel containing the holy water.
"Honoured queen! The King has sent you this golden vessel which contains the ceremonial water."
King Dasarath stood up, took the vessel into his hands and sprinkled the holy water on the queen's head. The queen was overwhelmed with joy. Within the twinkling of an eye she forgot her dissatisfaction and began to regret her impatient, rash and thoughtless behaviour.
“Why did you take so much time to come here ?” Dasarath asked the attendant glancing towards him.
"My lord ! You know my body is weak and I am old. I am merely a skeleton with dry bones....a mere skeleton and nothing else. I am unable to do anything quickly. Old age has incapacitated me,” the attendant said breathing heavily.
King Dasarath kept looking at the decrepit body of the old attendant. His body was shaking. His hair had turned grey. All the organs of his body had grown weak and withered. His eye-brows were covered with grey hair. His body which was once robust had grown weak and withered. He was finding it difficult even to place a step.
The attendant bowed to the king and queen and went out of the chamber slowly. Dasarath kept looking at him until he went out of sight. Suddenly there arose a serious conflict in his mind. He fell into deep thoughtfulness.
"Is every jiva destined to grow old and decrepit? Oh ! old age does not spare anyone but this is a pitiable stage of life. ...
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