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98
JAINA STORIES
"Ratnasar 1 You look on me with utter contempt only because of your ignorance I am a Vyantara (sylvan) god with freedom to behave and freedom to enjoy. In my view, you are a real animal who are grossly deceived by your own father."
Ratnasar was taken aback. Said he,
"What do you mean when you say that I have been grossly deceived by my own father ?!'
"I mean what I say You have been deceived. Had it not been so, you would have been in the know of special things in your household Your father has kept out certain things from the purview of your knowledge."
“But your allegation is vague To substantiate, you should be specific at least about some items, and indicate how they have been kept out of my knowledge."
“Your father has a special steed of black hue, lean but very fast, who has been imported from another land. It has a broad neck, flies with the air and gives sore success to its master Its normal speed is 100 yojanas per day and it can encircle the earth in seven days The steed is kept hidden from you, I shall deem you to be a true hero only when you can take possession of it."
So saying the Kippara disappeared in the sky' Ratnasar returned home with the only thought, how to get the steed. He entered into a discarded room and lay on an worn-out cot. When the news reached his father, he came running and, on knowiog the problem of his son, he said,
“I had really no intention to hide anything from you. But, you see, I cannot tolerate your absence from home. If you had known the existence of the steed, it is pretty sure that it would have been difficult for me to detain you at home I deliberately kept it a secret only to avert this situation But now that you have known about it, I shall pass it on to you and give you the liberty to do what pleases
you"
Ratpasar's problem was so easily solved. He was happy
