Jain Stories 02

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

Page 44

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JAINA STORIES
and fell deeply in love with him. She at once scribbled a brief note suggesting the meeting and dropped it from her window. The note from the princess suggested the meeting at the temple on the fourteenth night of the dark half of the month wherefrom, it was suggested, the two would proceed. to some unknown destination
On the plea of visiting the temple for purposes of worship, Vasantashri started from the palace on the appointed night. She was in the best of her clothes and jewellery and carried many other essential things But merchant Haribala did not turn up on account of a mental conflict He had never known the princess before and her love was only at first sight. This, he apprehended, might later be a cause of trouble Besides, women are by nature crafty and secretly they perform many things When Vasantashri reached the temple, it was very dark She called out.
"Harıbala, Harıbala "
There was no response except the echo The princess called out again. Fisherman Haribala heard it, and finding somebody calling him by his name, he responded from where he lay. The princess said,
"Hurry up, my dear. We have to go a long distance" Fisherman Haribala did not take much time to understand the situation. He understood that he had replaced somebody bearing the same name as himself, who had failed to turn up So be thought of playing the necessary role. He at once came up and mounted on the chariot The chariot proceeded at top speed In his hurry, Harıbala had left his fishing net behind. After they had gone some distance, the princess discovered that the man accompanying her had hardly much clothes on. Did he come in disguise or some miscreant had robbed him of his wear, she thought When the princess asked him about his clothes, he said
"Hm"
So she gave him some out of her own stock Then the princess induced him to enter into conversation with her and conveyed her deep love to him but he would only repeat as previously,