________________
CXIII
THE SWAYAMVAR IN KANCHANPUR
The wheel of samsar kept revolving. Countless jivas kept passing through various states of existence in consonance with the movement of the wheel of samsar but there are some jivas who move in the opposite direction, take a road not taken by others and atttain deliverance from samsar. Some jiyas floating on the waves of samsar analyse and scrutinise it, retaining mental equanimity. Some lament over misfortunes. Some are absorbed in amusements and delights. Some discuss those events and some forget them and after sometime again keep floating on the waves of samsar.
Sita and the commander Kritantavadan adopted the Charitradharma. They moved against the current of samsar and began traversing the path of spiritual elevation. These events became the subject matter of endless discussions among the citizens of Ayodhya. Some commended their sublime selfsacrifice and renunciation. Some experienced anguish at the separation from them and some also began gossiping about those events, saying "Well! What could she do ? She had to receive the Deeksha. Ram has caused great anguish to her. He caused anguish to many".
This is a tradition of the samsar. All do not praise a noble action but all condemn an ignoble action. This tradition has been going on in the samsar.
Days passed. Only the memory of Sita remained in the magnificent and sky-high palace of Ayodhya Kritantayadan carried out spiritual austerities in his attempt to attain the heavenly state of existence, Sita carried out severe spiritual
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
