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Shatrughna's Purvajanma
249
One day, Shridhar happened to be walking along a main road of the city. The Queen Lalitha who possessed unexampled beauty happened to see him as she sat in the balcony of her magnificent palace. She was captivated by his beauty. She sat stupefied. Her winged fancy wandered through her thought ranging beyond its limitations. Passion filled her to the brims of her being. She drew his attention towards herself and made a sign suggesting that he should meet her in the palace secretly. With the assistance of a confidant of the queen he entered the palace by a secret passage. He met the queen in a secret chamber and the two forgot themselves in sensual pleasures. They were like two impetuous rivers, running down a valley uniting an flowing on and ultimately falling into the ocean of ecstasy. Just then the king by chance came into the palace. The sudden and unexpected arrival of the king filled the queen with mortal fear and agitation. In consequence she darted out of her sleeping chamber; went to the king and began sobbing, clinging to him. The queen employed this guile to show that she was innocent. She said with pretended agitation.
"Some robber has broken into my sleeping chamber !"
The king did not doubt her words. Without making any enquiries he sent for the chief guard of the palace and said;
"Take this wretched fellow to the scaffold and cut off his head !”
The guard took Shridhar to the scaffold. Though he was going to be beheaded he said nothing. Even after seeing the deceptive and pretentious guile adopted by the queen he thought it good to remain silent. Just then by chance a Muni happened to be passing by. His name was Kalyan Muni. He was a master of many powers and accomplishments. He knew Sridhar and was fully convinced that he had a great devotion for Shramans; therefore he advised the guard to release Sridhar. The guard informed the king of the Muni's persuasion. The king moved by the muni's persuasion released Sridhar.
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