Jain Stories 03

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

Page 43

MRIGASUNDARI
33
For Samanta Singh. it was now a very trying situation He did not want his identity to be revealed to the princess So he said to her
"My dear! Till I obtain the blessing of my family goddess, we should not share the same bed
""
This appeared to be a reasonable request, and Sulochana readily agreed Samanta Singh now departed with the permission of his wife's parents By the time he reached aforest, the sun had already set So he tied his horse to a tree and himself lay beneath it At mid-night, the goddess of the forest thought of taking a test of the man who had come within her jurisdiction She changed herself into a fine lad, came to the man and started playing mischief, some mild and others strong Samanta Singh rose upto the situation and responded very suitably This pleased the goddess, who now appeared in her own form and asked the man to pray for a boon
"Oh goddess 1 If you are really pleased with me, then help me to reach my husband."
The goddess said,
"You are here in search of your husband, and to-morrow your husband enters his native city If you are keen to meet him, I can take you there"
The goddess picked up Sringarasundari along with her horse and placed her in her husband's city She first met Mrigasundari and their joy knew no bound Sringarasundari next met her husband
When the news of Sajjankumar's arrival reached the palace, King Chandrasekhara, the six wives of the prince, the royal household and many leading citizens came to receive him The whole party was taken to the palace in a procession On an auspicious day, the eight princesses were