________________
116
JAINA STORIES once again. He took his wife into confidence and she approved of the idea and offered to go with him
So the two left the palace one niyht, and, reaching the sea shore, they went on a voyage Unfortunately, the ship was caught in a terrible storm. The captain tried his best to save it, but then a gust of wind sealed its fate and the ship was broken to pieces Most of the people on board were drowned. Separated from her husband, Dhanavati, supporting herself on a floating plank, was washed ashore to a place near the city of Kusumpura,
In that city, there was a temple dedicated to a jaksa named Priyamelaka His speciality was that, if propitiated, hc helped to bring together people separated by accident Dhanavatı heard about this temple, went there and started her penance to propitiate the diety.
Meanwhile, her husband, Prince Singhal caught another plank and was washed ashore to a place near the city of Ratnapur. There reigned King Ratnaprabha whose wife was Ratnasundari and whosed daughter was Ratnayatı. About the time the prioce had reached the city, the princess suffered from a snake bite, and when all other remedies failed, it was the prince who cured her. This little episode ended in a marriage between the two.
The day there was shipwreck, and the prince was separated from Dhanavatı, he undertook the vow to remain celibate till he was reunited with her, and hence the marriage with Ratnavati created a real problem for him It was the first night after the marriage and the bride was waiting in her decorated chamber at the seventh floor. The prince came, but he lay on the floor. This raised all sorts of suspicion in Ratnavati's mind She could not remain silent for long and asked the prince the reason for his quaint behaviour. The prince, however, suppressed the fact and said,
"My dear ! When I started on the last voyage, I took the vow not to indulge in sex bebaviour till I saw my respected father"
"Sır! Thou art noble, thou art worthy, to have such a high regard for thy parent," said the princess.
