Book Title: Jain Stories 02
Author(s): Mahendramuni, K C Lalwani
Publisher: A B Jain Shwetambar Terapanth Samaj

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Page 59
________________ HARIBALA 37 He was sorry to think that so many would die in igaorance and foolishness by simply relying on his words. He caught the king's feet and said, "Your Majesty! The culprit has been punished and Your Majesty need not take a plunge. All the wrong steps you took were at the advice of the chief minister and he is now no more to do any further mischief Repent not about what is dead and past , strive to make the future glorious." The king was thus humiliated in public and was deeply ashamed for all that he had done, Gradually, be found a profound indifference overtaking him. He returned to the palace and married his daughter with Harıbala Then he gave charge of his kingdom to him and renounced the world in order to spend the remaining portion of his life wortbily in spiritual pursuits When Vasantasena, Vasantashri's father, came to know the happy turn in the fortune of his daughter, he had no more reason to remain angry with her. Besides, he had grown old and wanted to retire, and none was more suitable than Harıbala to take charge of his kingdom So he entrusted his kingdom to him and renounced the world Despite so much good fortune, Haribala Dever forgot about his vow Often his mind went back to the day when the muni had induced him to accept a fiaction of a vow It was this small thing that had helped him to rise to the pioacle of glory and earthly prosperity So, thought he, if he would practise the whole yow, how much more would he not achieve ! Although a king, he always cherished high thinking He would not only himself remain immersed in lofty things, he would even inspire his three wives to do the same He brought bis first wife Prachanda to live at the palace In his old age, he renounced the world and through the practice of penance and austerities attained a very high degree of knowledge.

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