Jain Stories 02

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

Page 93

CHARUDATTA
71
business. Charudatta also did the same and earned a sizeable amount. He was now anxious to return home So he started back with whatever money he bad earned Luck disfavoured bim again. The ship was caught in a storm on the sea and was lost With it went down Charudatta's entire fortune He saved himself with great difficulty by swimming ashore with the support of a floating plank. He Dow reached the outskirts of the city of Rajpur where he sat under a tree, taking stock of his life A traveller was passing by that way Charudatta saw his brilliant face and felt that this must be some uncommon personality He folded his palms and wished him a good-day The traveller stopped to look at bim When be saw him in a pitiable condition, he said, "How do you look so sad and downcast, ob young man ?"
Charudatta barrated his story
The traveller took pity on him and took him with himself. Charudatta apprehended no danger from him
Danger, however, comes without giving notice, and it comes in a manner and at a time when it is least expected
After they had covered some distance, the two reached a dense forest There was a hill in it and there was a cave in the hill. The man opened the door of the cave and the two entered into it As they proceeded inside the cave, they reached a well which was emittiög very foul smell The man handed over to Charudatta a hollow gourd and said,
"I shall lower you inside the well You fill it up with the juice that is stored inside and pass it on to me. Then I shall take you out”
Then the map lowered Charudatta into the well Now he was near the juice As he extended his hand to fill up the gourd, he heard a voice from inside speaking something to him
The voice--"Gentleman, Take not the juice »
Charudatta—"Sır, Whoever you may be, I am to inform you that I am Bhanu Srestbi's son At the bidding of a