Jain Stories 01

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

Page 81

MUNIPATI
57
The merchant started "Oh monk' In the city named Prithivibhusana, there reigned a king named Suklapaksa His first queen was Suklaparınama Krishnapaksika was his minister, who was ruthless and cruel, unfair and cunning One day, a merchant came to that city from afar, and presented a fast steed to the king To test it, the king mounted on its back and put it to gallop Soon he was in a dense forest Both the horse and the rider were now out of 'breath The horse soon died.
"Distressed by hunger and thirst, the king was wandering in the forest He ate some wild fruits and drank water from a tank Then he met a holy man who brought him to his cottage Now in the cottage, the king saw a lady, who was the very embodiment of beauty and good luck He felt attracted towards her in a moment The lady saw the king and had herself a similar feeling towards him. The king cast frequent glances at her This was noticed by the holy man who at once cautioned him But the king did not hide This feeling and curiosity He frankly asked. 'Holv sire ! Who is this lady? Who are her parents? How did she come here? Is she married or still a spinster? The hermit smiled and said, 'Oh king! Her life history is very long *But since you have expressed a curiosity about it, I must make it short for you Vidyadhara Dharmasena is a king on the Vivekadrı mountain This is his daughter named Nivrittı As she was seated one day at her window high up in her father's mansion, a flying Vidyadhara saw her and carned her away As the girl shouted for help, her father at once pursued the culprit Feeling himself insecure, he dropped the girl on the ground near here and escaped for the safety of his life But Dharmasena would not stop till the wrongdoer was duly punished So he left his daughter in my custody here, and has gone after him, telling me, in case he did not turn up within a reasonable time, to settle this girl an marriage with a deserving person, who must be in posses