Jain Stories 02

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

Page 23

ARAMASOBHA
There lived at Palasagrama a brahmin pamed Agnisharma. He was an expert in sacrificial rites and was thoroughly versed in the four Vedas His wife's name was Jvalanashikha. He had a daughter Damed Vidyutprabha who was extremely graceful When Vidyutprabba was eight years old, her motber passed away This was a great shock for her Besides, the responsibility of managing the household was now on her young and immature shoulders She would get up before sun-rise, clean the house and besmear the kitchen; then she would follow the cattle to the jungle for their grazing At mid-day she would be back home, milk the cows, serve food to her father and take food herself, and follow the cattle to the jungle again. She came back after sun-set After she had finished her daily duties, she would be wholly exhausted But she would not go to bed before her father, and she would get up before him Such was her daily routine.
One day Vidyutprabha came to her father and said :
"Father, I am somewhat incapable of running the household alone What to speak of me, even the bulls will break down under pressure of so much work So my request is that you marry some respectable lady so that my burden will be shared and the household will run well”
This was a good proposal and Agnisharma agreed He soon married and brought a new wife. Even Vidyutprabha was happy to receive a new mother But the happiness was not to last for long The new mother had no training in household work , besides, she was too much lazy and easygoing So all her expectations were washed away and Vidyutprabba had only remorse in store for her ; but she would blame none save her own luck With a decp sigh, she would say, "So long I worked for my father, but now