Jain Stories 01

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

Page 87

MUNIPATI
63
gain time. She said to him, 'My dear sir! I am pretty glad at the successful acquisition of power by you. But when you had gone out, it had appeared to me that you would at least take six months to return So I started a vow which enjoins a celibate living, lying on the ground and restricted diet. Now only a few days remain for the fulfilment of that vow May I hope that you will permit me to see it through Till then, sir, it behoves you not to
come to this apartment'
"This was not a very unusual request So the minister agreed and returned to the palace
"The king in the body of the elephant was meanwhile proceeding towards the city at a very quick pace. The minister kept himself informed about the movement of elephant As he drew near the city, he asked his men to kill him The men started at once, and when they saw the elephant, they chased after him The poor king in the body of the elephant was no match for so many men. So finding - the situation out of hand, he came out of the elephant's body and entered into the body of a dead deer The minister at once understood it and ordered his men to kill the deer So the king at last transferred himself into the body of a dead parrot and flew away in the sky. The bird perched on a mango tree near the queen's apartment and was caught in a hunter's net As the hunter was about to kill it, the bird said in a human voice 'Why kill me? Let me alone and I can give you much wealth. This caused the hunter the greatest surprise The parrot added, "Take me to the marketplace and sell me for Rs 1,00,000 You will surely find a
buyer,'
"So the hunter came to the market-place at once. Soon there was a crowd round the bird who spoke in the human voice But the price was too high and hence there was no - bidder The queen's own maid saw the parrot who recognised her and said, 'Good lady How is thy mistress ?'
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