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16
JAINA STORIES -
moment she thought of going back to her parents ; but thens she thought of the sort of life she had led there and the sort of reception she would receive now, and preferred to court suffering to going back to a life of scorn. But the very next moment she thought as to who would support her and how she would begin this new life. The prospect of begging wasnot at all palatable But she gathered courage and confidence, and thought : “If all living beings support themselves, I too can do the same. I will take up some work to support myself but I must preserve my purity and truth”.
The brave lcse nothing , instead, they find a way. The lady got up and reached the market-place of the city of Visbala She stood in front of the shop of merchant Manibhadra She looked at him, as he looked at her She had a feeling that this was a good man So she came nearer and said,
"Father, I am on the look-out for some work. It will be a great favour if you could give me one's
Manibbadra felt compassion for her but he hesitated to take an unknown lady into bis household He asked who she was and why she was there The lady said,
“Sir, I am the daughter of merchant Kuladhara of Champa. I was on my way to Chandadesha in the company of my husband, but misfortune having befallen, I have been separated from bim So I have come to you to seek some job so that my days of suffering may be easily spent "
Mapıbhadra consoled her and showed her affection He invited her to stay in his household and she was placed in charge of his household affairs He sent men in search of her husband but no trace of him could be found He also made confidential enquiries about her parents and they tallicd with what she had told him So she was installed in Manibhadra's family with full digorty, and, on her part, she won the affection of cverybody by dipt of her good behaviour.
Now, Mapibhadra built a magnificent Jina templewith high gates and colourful flags. Kuladhara's daughter
