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JAINA STORIES
approved of him, Keeping in view the situation under which the request had come to him, he could not really decline. The marriage took place at the appointed hour.
“Meanwbile, Dhanadeva's two wives had come to the spot They liked and praised the newly-married couple. But on closer observation, the younger wife said,
"Sister ! The fellovy bears a striking similarity with our own man. Maybe this is he'."
The elder wife protested,
'Why? There may be many persons with similar features, but that does not make them the same. We left him in the bed down with fever. How can be come here?'
"The marriage ceremony was over in the midst of great rejoicing Dhanadeva now came out from his father-in-law's house on some pretext and, before the return of his wives, he sat down in the hollow of the mango tree After some time, the wives returned and climbed on the tree. The tree carried them back to their own courtyard. Dharadeva crept out from the hollow stealthily and quickly put himself in his bed The two wives remained ignorant of this and went to sleep"
"But actuality can never be kept hidden for long In the morning, when the younger wife was engaged in her household duties, her notice was suddenly drawn towards & nuptial thread tied round Dhanadeva's wrist Her last night's guess now seemed to her to be correct She complained about it to the elder wife who became furious and exclaimed ”
"All right. He will have his reward very soon'."
“So saying, sbe enchanted a piece of thread and tied it round Dhanadeva's feet at the first available opportunity. Instantaneously, Dhanadeva was turned into a parrot
"It was very natural for a human being turned into a bird to be afilicted with grief Dhanadeva was no exception. The elder wife now mocked at him and said,
".You fool! You had made a nice pretence of fever
