Jain Stories 03

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

Page 72

JAINA STORIES
Now Sujasa told them that Sagarchandra too was on his way to this place and suggested that they should move forward to welcome him This they did and they were followed by many other invitees Meanwhile, Sujasa went ahead of them to inform Sagarchandra that his wife and son were coming to recente him This was a very happy occasion Surendradatta fell at his father's feet It was a happy meeting too between Mrigankalekha and Sagarchandra Mriganhalekha was happy to see her old friend Chitralekha The whole party sat down beneath a betelnut tree in a happy coni ersation
Then after spending a few days in that city as the guest of the king Sagarchandra and the party returned to their own city Ujjain King Avantisena and Sagardatta were happy to see them back There was rejoicing in the whole city. Old Sagardatta and his wife Padma expressed regret for what they had done to Mrigankalekha and begged to be forgiven
Once Jugandhara Kevalı caine to Ujjain and halted at the city park All went to pay their homage and obeisance when Mrigankalekha made the following submission to the great monk,
“Bhante ! Why did I suffer so mueh in my life ?" Throwing light on this, Jugandhar Kevalı said,
"In the city of Singhapur, there lived a brahmin named Kandarpa who was an intimate friend of Prince Anantadeva In the same city, there lived a tapasa monk who was held in very high esteem by all The prince was, however, envious of the monk One day, the prince suggested to his friend Kandarpa that some serious charge be levelled against the monk so that he might lose his reputation Kandarpa assured bis friend that he would do so.
"In the same city, there lived a rich man named Padmadeva who had a daughter Kamala by name She was