Jain Stories 03

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

Page 59

MRIGASUNDARI
Nala was completely overwhelmed at Damayanti's words, but had hardly an expression to convey his feeling le at oncc put on the cloth and the ornament given to him by his father and regained his normal form. This was a pleasant surprise for Damayantı She at oncc embraced her husband. In dcep embrace, both shed tears of joy. The news reached the palace and everybody was happy at the Teunion
When King Dadhiparna heard this, he realised that the wholc drama was enacted to regain Nala He was pretty ashamed and afraid He rushed at once to King Nala and begged to be forgiven, tendering a thousand apologies At the same time, he expressed deep regret for having desired to get Damayanti,
The period of 12 years was now drawing to its close, and at the suggestion of King Bhima and King Dadhiparna, and with their help, Nala laid seige to his former kingdom He was victorious and was once again on the throne of Ajodhya
Once an omniscient monk came to Ajodhya, and King Nala enquired for what fault on his part, he had to pass through these dreadful cxperiences for 12 years Revealing his past, the omniscient monk said,
"In your previous birth too, both of you were king and qucen, named Mammana and Viramatı respectively Once both of you were out on a promenade and were enraged to see a tonsured monk Taking it to be a bad omen, you threw the monk into the prison. When after 12 hours, your anger had cooled down, you set him free and begged of him to be forgiven Normally, both of you were pious souls practising austerities and penances necessary for a meritorious life and thus you earned a great merit By virtue of that, you are king and queen again But that