Jain Stories 03

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

Page 62

JAINA STORIES
enough for the marriage to be celebrated between Sagarchandra, Sagardatta's son, and Mrigankalekha, Dhanasara's daughter, and all people present liked the idea So did the father of the bride and that of the bridegroom
Arrangements were made at-once for the celebration of the marriage ceremony Meanwhile, Sagarchandra expressed a desire to lus friend to see the lady once before marriage This was a meaningless wish, since the lady had aleady been betbrothed to him, and no useful purpose would be served now by seeing her before marriage But Sagarchandra was adamant and so his friend very reluctantly agreed Both were to see the lady in her apartment in cognito No sooner did they think of it than they gave effect to it Both the friends were now in the lady's apartment invisible to anyone The lady was enjoying a friendly conversation with her mates
Chitralekha- 'My friend is lucky to get such a man as Sagarchandra"
Patraleh ha-"Whatever may be your view, to my mind, Anangadeva, son of Dhana Sresthi, would bave been a better husband for our friend In beauty, he excels even the God of Love"
Chitralekha-"You know, once an astrologer was consulted about Mrigankalekha's groom He revealed that in beauty and wealth, Anangadeva would be the best groom for her, but he had only a short life of 20 years So, you see, he could not have been selected Otherwise, our dear friend would have been his"
Patralekha-'But don't you agree that a small quantity of nectar is better than a great quantity of poison ?"
. As the conversation went on, Mrigankalekha had no active participation in it, nor did she comment on the