Jain Ramayana Part 2

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

Page 58

46
JAIN RAMAYAN
absence. Who could say anything in deprecation of the Queen in her presence ?
Queen Sahadevi learnt from reliable sources that her son Sukoshal had come to know of the arrival of the saintly king and that he had gone on horseback to see him. At once, she became worried and agitated. She sent a message to the Chief Minister to be present in the secret chamber for a consultation and then she went to the chamber of Queen Chitramala, the wife of Sukoshal.
Chitramala was a soft-natured woman of great purity and nobility. She knew very well that her husband was a man who looked at everything from the spiritualistic point of view. Therefore, she did not feel sad at what had happened. Moreover, she was fully convinced that if she had to make any endeavours in life, she must make only spiritualistic endeavours for her spiritual welfare but she was pregnant at that time.
"What a strange thing has occurred, Chitramala ! Have you not received any news?" Queen Sahadevi asked her impatiently soon after entering the chamber.
"No! I have not heard anything", Chitramala stood up, saluted the Queen-mother and said in a polite manner :
"The saintly king has come to Ayodhya unexpectedly. Somehow, Sukoshal has come to know of it and he has gone in search of the saintly king. I do not know what is going to happen?"...
"Mother! Do not worry about anything. I will at once go to my husband and will entreat him to...."
"But if he does not listen to your entreaty what will you do ?" Queen Sahadevi said with excitement. She seemed to know what was going to happen in the future.
"In this situation what control do you have over him? Of course he has control over us".
Queen Sahadevi became silent and kept looking at Chitramala. Just then a maid came in and informed the Queen-mother