Jain Stories 02

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

Page 31

ARAMASOBHA
The queen was given much treasure and was seen of Along with her started her forest-umbrella Agnishikha had her plot wholly ready. She had a deep well dug behind her house At the right moment, Aramasobha gave birth to a godly child. She was then taken to the backyard of the house for a wash, her step-mother attending On seeing the well she asked when it was dug The mother said "This has been dug for you You are now a queen and there may be jealous people who may poison your drinking water if it is "fetched from a distance. Hence this arrangement for your safety " Aramasobha took it all as said and bent to have a look inside As she did so, the step-mother pushed her into it. As she was going down, her mind went back to the god who had once promised her help, and he readily appeared on the scene. He supported her by his hand and made her sit on a comfortable place He would have punished Agaishikha on the spot for her misdeed but desisted -as Aramasobha held fast his feet In the nether world, the god built a chamber for her stay. The forest-umbrella too stayed with her there
Agnishikha now dressed her daughter in the clothes of a womai recently delivered and placed her on the couch. When the servant maids returned, they expressed surprise to see a lustreless and upcouth woman with a plump frame lying there False Aramasobha said, “I know not why all this has happened, but meseenis, some internal disease or disorder is the cause of my physical change ” When the servant maids reported the matter to Agnishikha, she rushed wailing and striking her breast · "Oh daughter ! How it has happened like that? Has anybody cast inauspicious glance at thee? Or is it due to gastrities or some organic trouble ? Alas! All my sweet dreams may come to an end” She pretended to make all possible arrangements for her restoration but none yielded any result
Now, the minister came to take the queen back. The party started for Patalıputra On the way, when the servant maids asked why the forest-umbrella was not there, false Aranasobha said that it had gonc to the well to take water and would soon follow. When the party was in the vicinity