Jain Stories 02

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

Page 29

ARAMASOBHA
A Yaksha used to live on that tree. By dint of his great insight, he came to know of the evil design of the brahmin lady. Thought he : “When there is such an able one like me here, can anybody put Aramasobba to the torture of death ? Has she not accumulated much righteousness in her previous birth ?, So thinking he replaced the poisoned modaka by a good one, delicious like nectar. The brabmin got up, picked up the pot and resumed his journey. At last, he was at the palace gate. His arrival was duly announced and with the royal sanction, the brahmin was conducted inside the court to the presence of His Majesty. The brahmin profusely blessed the king. Then there were mutual enquiries about health, after which the brahmin presented the pot to the king. The king was very happy and ordered it immediately to be carried to the queen's chamber The brahmin was honoured by the gifts of clothes and ornaments.
Now the king was in Aramasobha's chamber. He thought of the modaka and wanted to have a portion of it. Happily did the queen open the pot and, what joy, the whole chamber was filled with its fragrance “Surely”, said His Majesty, "is this modaka prepared with nectar" The king cast a lustful glance at the queen and requested her to distribute it to all her co-wives, la deference to the king's wishes, Aramasobha did it with her own hands. All the queens were happy to taste it and all spoke in glowing terms of the skill of her mother.
When the king came back to the court, the brahmin made a prayer for his daughter's going to his home for once To this, the king smiled and said, "The queen does not see even the sun ; so how can she go to her parents' home 7» The brabmin returned on fulfilment of his mission and reported it to bis wife The lady was now waiting to hear about her step-daughter's death But the tiding did not come and she grew restless. Perhaps the sweet was not suficiently poisoned. So she resolved to make a renewed attempt and continue it till her goal was attained This time she poisoned the miodaka very decply, packed it as before and despatched it with her husbaad with the same