Jain Stories 03

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

Page 63

MIRGANKALEKHA
discussion But her silence was misconstrued by Sagarchandra He pulled out his sword to strike at-once at the unfaithful lady. With great difficulty, his friend dragged hım home At the appointed hour, the marriage passed off without any untoward event. Sagardatta allotted a big mansion for the use of the couple But alas ! Sagarchandra did not come to live there with his wife. He would not even look at the mansion Mrigankalckha could find no reason for this bchaviour on the part of her husband which caused her a great misery. However, since separation was forced on her, she devoted herself to a spiritual life
Once King Avantisena prepared plans for the invasion of Laladesa He sent for Sagardatta and asked him to send his son to accompany the army on the march and arrange the supply of provision for the soldiers Sagardatta agreed Sagarchandra now started with the blessing of his parents As he was about to pass from beneath the mansion where Mrigaphalekha lived, she came at the window to wish him good luck and bid him farewell To this Sagarchandra responded with a cruel gesture But Mrigankalekha was helpless, god all she could do was to console herself by saying that it was all the fruit of her inauspicious karina
The army contioued its march and by evening reached the bank of a river. It encamped on the bank of the river It was night and Sagarchandra was lying in his tent Suddenly he heard the cry of a lady 10 distress Feeling that he might be of some use to her, he moved out in that direction with a sword in hand and after going a long dista oce, he saw the lady He said to her in a very affec. tionate voice
"Sister! What may by the cause of thy distress? May I help thee in any way !"
The lady_"Friend! I thank you for your kind words But there is node on this earth who may allay my distress So please do not put yourself in trouble on my score"