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100
JAINA STORIES
Despite your very delicate frame, you have preferred to choose a hard life. But it secms to me that, like the malati flower, you have dedicated your life to a colossal waste. How very nice you would look in silk and nylon ; pstead, you have put on a bark Your hairs need a delicate touch ; instead, they are all matted. I do not know what induced you to this wrong choice."
The hermit youth was abashed With tears of joy in his eyes, and throat almost choked, he said,
"Your endearing vords give me a great joy. Both of you are inquisitive about my choice, and this gives me added joy. Surely shall I narrate the story of my life to such friends as you both”
Ratnasar and the parrot now sat all attention and the hermit youth was just about to start his account, when there started a severe cyclone darkeniog all directions with flying dust There was a terrific roar in the wind, so that nothing was visible and nothing was audible. The hermit youth was unfortunately caught in the wild which lifted him up to the sky. He cried for assistance, but before Ratnasar could do anything, he was carried far, far away.
Ratnasar became very sad at this event To change his thought, the parrot said,
“This hermit youth does not seem to be a boy He must be a girl, who has been turned into a boy by the machination of some cruel god, demon or Vidyadhara His face cut and gait lend support to my guess If somehow she could be rescued from her present state, I have no doubt, she would be glad to marry you" They were now searching for the youth, but the search did not yield any result One day, they reached a temple dedicated to the first Tirthankara Risabha Ratnasar worshipped at the feet of the image and sat down at the window to rest and enjoy the forestscape outside Addressing the parrot, he said,
“So many days have passed, and we have not been able to trace the hermit. It causes me much paio."
