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110
JAINA STORIES
"One night as Jitasatru was coming back from his shop, he saw a musician singing from a side-walk. His sweet voice attracted many round him The man was a cripple and supported himself by singing Jitasatru invited the man to come and Ine with him He thought that the company of so jovial a man would make his wife happy. The cripple was a little surprised at this turn of his luck, but he agreed This was a ready solution of his problem, and it would not be necessary for him to move any more from place to place Sukumala also welcomed the next arrangement
"Jitasatru's financial position was slowly looking up. Now, he earned more than he spent, and he could make some saving But he was gradually losing his grip on the wife Sukumala spent the whole day in the company of the musician and became fond of him Her heart was transferred from Jitasatru to th s new arrival One day, the cripple said to her, 'My deaz! Our hearts are not united , but if by any chance Jitasatru comes to know of this, we shall be completely undone So when there's time, we should do something in the matter' Sukumala agreed with him and assured him that she was perfectly conscious of this and that at the right moment, they should take the thom out.
"Months passed and seasons changed Winter was followed by spring One day, Jitasatru and Sukumala were seated in a happy mood when the latter made a proposal that they should together bathe in the Ganga Her grouse was that she did not enjoy this form of pleasure ever since she left the palace The earlier it could be arranged, the better. Jitasatru also liked the proposal, and he readily agreed. On the appointed day, they left the cripple at home and reached the bank of the Ganga Hand in hand, they entered into the water They were now waist-deep in water 'This is not enough', shouted Sukumala 'We must go deeper still' Now,
