Jain Stories 01

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

Page 49

AMVADA
25
then the four girls stepped in with the goat in their company. Rupini enquired who it was and why it had been brought
"One of the ladies requested her to direct the enquiry to the goat himself Amvada now stood in his own form and informed the ladies how powerful he was because of magical powers and how the whole world lay at his feet These were no mere words of a brag and the ladies were impressed by his manliness Amvada now demanded of Rupını the goddess and tne monkey, at which she gave the following account regarding the acquisition of the two.
'Once I had propitiated Indra, who gave me this wonderful monkey Not only does the monkey give me precious gems everyday, but my own luck and life are very intimately linked up with him The moment the monkey is separated from me, I die So, sir, you cann t have the monkey without having me too'
"Amvada was prepared to accept her and to do so at once But, as it turned out, there were several hurdles to be overcome before this union could be solemnised As the lady revealed, the man must first acquire a special power called aja-vidya, and then he mist marry Princess Viramati, daugăter of King Malayachandra, and then alone could be marry her.
"Being a very ambitious man, to whom nothing was impossible, Amvada started at once and acquired aja-vidya His next task was to clear the way leading to the acquisition of the princess As a first step to that, he turned King Malayachandra himself into a goat as he was out for a ride on horseback This was a great disaster for the kingdom. When all efforts to restore the king failed, the minister ordered the closure of the city gates
"Now, by his powers, Amvada created a huge army consisting of infantrymen, cavalrymen, elephant-men and