________________
In the Whirlpool of Calamities
461
Chandranakha also stood spell-bound at the sight of Shri Ram's beauty. A strange passion shot through her veins. Maddened by infatuation, she went forward to embrace Shri Ram. In a moment, she assumed the form of a beautiful damsel.
Chandranakha was verily the sister of Ravan of Lanka. She was an expert in assuming any form.
"Oh! What a strange passion ? What a sport of sensual cravings ?” She was experiencing terrible anguish a moment ago on account of her son's death and now even while his dead body lay there she became infatuated with Shri Ram and desired a union with him. She was blinded by her passion.'
“What a strange sensual craving in an atmosphere of sorrow and anguish ?"
“Dear lady! Why have you come into this terrible forest alone ? This is a dreadful forest.” Shri Ram said in a querulous manner.
Chandranakha narrated a false story.
“My dear hero! I am the daughter of the king of Avanti. I was sleeping on the roof of my palace and some supernatural being carried me away from there and has brought me here. Here some Vidyadhar prince happened to meet me. At once, he became infatuated with me. As a result of that he attacked the supernatural creature. There ensued a terrible fight between them. At once, they killed each other there and then. I began wandering through the forest alone. By chance, I came here. On account of my great punya I have found a refuge here .... I have found a benevolent man here. Now my dear Lord, you are everything to me. Kindly give me a place at your feet. Kindly marry me. It is said that the entreaties made to great men will never be in vain".
Hearing the entreaty of the damsel the two brothers glanced towards each other. They thought deeply for a while. “It is likely that she is some deceptive being like a siren. Assuming an attractive form she might have come here to deceive us. There is some mystery behind the appearance of this damsel.”
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
