Jain Stories 01

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

Page 92

JAINA STORIES
Priyakanta was his wife He lived on public charity, and] so unlucky was he that in order to earn just enough for subsistence, he had to work very hard Everyday, he took a full trek of seven villages, begging food from door to door Ob king' Misery shrinks a man's life, and any flicker of: hope finds hard to strike a root no him In this state of misery, Seduka's wife became pregnant, and as the time of delivery drew near, the brahmin suggested that he should strive hard to collect necessary provisions, which, he said, would take a long time, and that still it might not be a very easy job for him to collect costly things The lady suggested an easier course which was to see the king and beg some money from him The brahmin agreed with her and. started at once He took a few wild fruits with himself to make an offer to the king As he made the offer and stood before the king, the latter asked him who he was and what was the purpose of his coming The brahmin made his submission telling the king that he was poor and foolish too, that life had become unbearable to him for want of wealth, and that he had come to seek some financial assistance to meet the cost of his wife's delivery The king. took pity on him and ordered that he should supply him with wild flowers and take two coins everyday Thisgenerosity on the part of the king made life easy for the brahmin couple.
"Now, a war broke out between Kosambi and Champa, in which the former city was beseized The seize continued for months and meanwhile, the rains started. King Satanıka closed the city gates and continued to fight from the ramparts, thus steadıly reducing the enemy's. columns In the rains, it was a great problem for the king of Champa to maintain the supply line and so he withdrew a good part of his men, keeping a handpicked few to continue the seize Seduka noticed this reduction in the enemy's strength and reported it to the king Relying on this.