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114
JAINA STORIES
"In the course of their wanderings, they now reached the city where Jitasatru was the king Soon the news about the musician spread all over the city and even reached the ears of the king The king sent for them. Sukumala and the cripple felt elated at this invitation from the palace. They felt that they would now be in the king's grace, and their hard days would soon be over, They arrived at the court. This was a very special occasion for the musician who throughout his life had been a street singer and had never had a chance to sing at the court So he was in the very best of his forms The audience was charmed and listened with undivided attention When at last the music stopped, there was a loud applause all around
"When the music was over Sukumala took her chance to incite public compassion. She made a sbort speech and started collecting money As she approached the king, the latter said, 'Woman' Did you ever have another man to call your own whom you pushed into the deep water of the Ganga ?' Sukumala became pale and stiff at once. The flow of her words dried up and she looked at the king. The earth slipped from beneath her feet She started shouting and crying, as if she had been haunted or had gone mad At last, she fell at the king's feet and begged for mercy People who had been happy to hear the music were completely taken by surprise at this melodrama Said the king to the woman, 'You are a woman So I spare your life but you get out at once from the four corners of my kingdom If you ever become visible within my realm, you will pay with you life"
said Munipati to Kunchika,
"Oh merchanti Despite all I have said, it seems that you have still doubts in my honesty. To remove them, all I ran do now is to swear like Bhadra Brisabha”
