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52
JAINA STORIES
Once, to procure some money for her private use.. Dhanashree sold out a part of the oilseed stock without the knowledge of her husband , but soon she became afraid, lest he should come to know of this, and, to hide the deal, she hatched a plan at once In the night of the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month, when it was pitchy dark, she went out and reached that portion of the park where Monk Munipati stood immersed in meditation. She removed all her clothes, covered her body with bird's plumes,darkened her face with ashes and soots and filled a discarded wine-pot with burndg charcoal In her dishevelled hairs, she looked like a spirit Now with the charcoal in. one hand and a sharp knife in the other, she appeared before Tılabhatta with a great gust As Tılabhatta started trem-- bling, the spirit would terrorise him all the more by givingan occasional puff at the fire She occasionally uttered
"Shall I eat tila or shall I eat Tılabhatta ?"
Tılabhatta was wholly upset He knew not what it could be and what he should do now Meanwhile, the spuit thundered :
"Oh ye wretch! For long, have I been looking for thee But now ye are in my clutches. I won't stop till I kill thee. So remember thy deity. Thou shalt never escape from me"
Tilabhatta's only concern now was how to wriggle out. of the situation He looked around, but he could find. nothing to hold any hope for him So be rolled at her feet and begged for his life, saying, "Goddess ! I am thy servant . Have mercy on me I am helpless I shall always obey thy command My life is in thy hands Save me, spare me"
With bloodshot eyes, the spirit said,
"Don't ye know me? I am the well-known goddess wbo, thrives on oilseeds. If thy life be dear to thee, then maker gift of thy entire stock of oilseeds unto me. Notbing else.
