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JAINA STORIES
overwhelmed by thy courage, ob charming maid! Seek a boon "
Vidyutprabha turned round and saw a god who was repeating the aforesaid words So said Vidyutprabha, "Oh the best among the gods! If you are pleased with me, then be good enough to do something to help my cattle. Please give a forest cover to them They are much oppressed by the rays of the sun
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The god cast a deep sigh. Thought he, "What a request' She could have got rid of her poverty Ignorant is she Whatever that may be, her wishes must be duly honoured." So he created a forest above her, as charming as the Nandana-vana, the celebrated heavenly forest. Then be said to her :
"Here is your forest, wherein you will get trees yielding all sorts of fruits and flowers Wherever you go, this will follow you like an umbrella Like a divine damsel you will freely play in it and your cattle will suffer no more. If at any time in future you are in difficulty, think of me and I shall be at your service
カラ
The god disappeared Vidyutprabha ate sweet fruits from that forest and returned home in the evening Themother asked her to take food but she had no appetite Now on, she would go to the forest early in the morning and return home in the evening There she would be playing throughout the day while her cattle would be grazing
One day as she was lying under a thick tree, king Jitashatru of Pataliputra with his retinue was passing by that way. He was delighted to see the divine forest and decided to rest there for some time. The king's throne was placed under a tree, the pack animals were let loose to eat grass, the chariots were parked in a shady spot; and the men were at ease, gossiping and relaxing This disturbed the peace of the forest and Vidyutprabha's cattle fled away. When Vidyutprabha woke up, she found that the cattle had disappeared. So she rushed forth to find them out Now, as she moved, the forest-umbrella over her head moved too, and the king and
