Jain Stories 01

Author(s): Mahendramuni, K C Lalwani
Publisher: A B Jain Shwetambar Terapanth Samaj

Page 47

AMVADA
23
offer with thanks, but as to the proposal regarding their marriage, she skilfully sidetracked it by saying that there should be a fraternal tie between the two What could the god do but to accept her request? The sister now requested her brother to equip her with powers that would make her invincible in all situations To oblige her, the god at once created a vast lake and a costly mansion therein for her stay When the king-monk enquired about his daughter's future, the god told him that she would be married to Amvada, the man of ambition, and that the girl would herself find him out.'
"Amvada felt highly elated at the account given by the stranger An invitation from such an exceptional lady, who was marked for him, to see her at her own residence! Amvada reached her mansion and was with the lady herself It was indeed a happy meeting Now, Amvada was anxious to meet the king-monk and he started at once At her bidding, a valet accompanied him, leading him through the tank and the forest. Amvada walked behind him But no sooner had the two covered a short distance than a giant fish swallowed up Amvada The fish, in turn, was picked up by a crane who held it in its beak In this state, the crane was picked up by a hawk who flew away in the sky When the valet turned back to check if Amvada was following, he didn't see him there, and no clue to his disappearance could he find He came back and reported the matter to the girl She was very sorry but didn't know what to do in the situation
"Being tired of the weight it was carrying, the hawk sat on a tree A hunter saw the hawk and hit it with an arrow As the hawk dropped down, the crane was liberated from its claws, and the fish slipped from the crane's beak When the hunter pierced the fish, he found a man in its belly The man had lost consciousness but was not