Jain Stories 03

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

Page 13

SURASUNDARI
final examination Amarkumar stood first among the boys and Surasundarı among the girls
Surasundari was no longer a little girl ; she had become a young damsel Thc king was now anxious to get her married to a suitable groom So he sent his men to find out a sustable match, but nowhere could such a person be found The king gresy worried He called his family preceptor and asked for his advice The preceptor said,
"Oh king ! You have misconstrued the term 'suitable' To me he who is intelligent and virtuous, who has mastered 72 arts, and who can properly guide his family, is to be deemed a suitable groom To such a person, wealth and fame are sure to come"
At these words, the king remoulded his thoughts He began to think of the high families in his own hingdom Suddenly Amarkumar came up in his mind. He asked the preceptor about him as a groom The preceptor said,
"I have taught both and I know well their nature There is a great similarity and common ground between them I believe, if married, they will be the happiest couple on earth"
The king now took a final decision One say he invited both Amarkumar and Surasundarı to his court The preceptor and many leading citizens were present there The king told Amarkumar and the princess to put questions to each other, and later he himself asked a few questions to each. Their performance satisfied all who were present there The king sent for the merchant Dhanapal, father of Amarkumar, and made to him a formal proposal The merchant was very happy at this proposal and he readily agreed Amarkumar and Surasundarı were married on an auspicious day