Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 25

Now the people had no reason to be scared of Chandkaushik and began to move in the
hermitage at will. Many of them were snake worshippers. They held it in reverence and worshipped it. As a mode of worship, some of them even applied ghee (refined butter) and honey on its body. The odor of such materials attracted ants that started biting the cobra for the sake of
food. Their bites were very painful but Chandkaushik faced that peacefully and remained unperturbed in such adversities. Observing equanimity till the end, it died peacefully and attained
the heavenly life.
(12)
LORD MAHAVIR AND CHANDANBÄLÄ
Chetak, the chief of Vaishäli republic was the brother of Trishalä, the mother of Lord Mahavir. Chetak had 7 daughters. Of these, Jyeshtha was married to Nandivardhan, the Lord's brother, Mrugavati was married to king Shatänik of Kaushämbi, Dhärini also known as Padmavati to the king Dadhivahan of Champapuri. Dadhivahan and Padmavati were very happy with each other and they had a daughter named Vasumati whom they loved very much. Vasumati was beautiful and obedient. Though she was brought up in royal comfort and luxuries, she was exposed to religious tenets as well.
Once it so happened that king Shatänik invaded Champäpuri. Dadhivahan fought bravely but he was killed in the battle and Champäpuri fell in the hands of Shatänik. Padmavati did not want to surrender herself. She tried to escape with her young daughter. Unfortunately she fell in the hands of some soldiers of Shatänik. They were attracted by her beauty and wanted to molest her. But Padmavati committed suicide in order to save herself from sexual assault. Those soldiers were scared by the horrible scene and were afraid that Vasumati too may try to follow her mother. So they treated her well and took her to Kaushämbi where they intended to make money by selling her.
In Kaushämbi there was a kind hearted merchant named Dhanävah who was financially well off. He saw Vasumati in the market and decided to get her because he was childless. He liked the girl and thought that she would be able to help his wife Mulädevi. So Vasumati went with him. She had to undergo varying phases of life within a short period. From Princess she had become a captive and now a maid servant. She had been raised with some spiritual thinking and therefore accepted all the changes in her life as consequences of her earlier Karma. She had decided not to disclose her original identity and adopted her new role without grumbling. She took all possible care for Dhanävah who soon developed fatherly affection for her. He used to call her Chandanbälä meaning sandal wood girl, because like sandal wood she scattered fragrance in his life by her sweet, obedient and accommodating nature. For him Chandanbälä was a real daughter.
As Dhanävah's affection for her grew, his wife Mulädevi started harboring suspicion about their relations. She was aware that she could not give any child to him. She was now aged and not any way attractive. So she started worrying that her husband may marry Chandanbälä who grew to be a very attractive, lovely young lady. Mulädevi jealously watched the affectionate behavior of her husband for Chandanbälä. Once it so happened that he had been out for a business trip. When he came back, Chandanbälä as usual, came out to wash his feet with warm water. While she had to bend for this purpose, her hairs, hanging downwards, almost touched the ground. He therefore picked them up and put on her back. Mulädevi was watching that and she became certain that her husband was in love with the girl and would marry her. She shuddered at the fate that would be in store for her in that case and thought that something had to be done to get rid of the girl.