Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 61

his strict observance of the vow. He then told Haribal to remember him whenever the latter had any problem.
It was late evening by that time. Haribal therefore decided to pass that night in a nearby temple. Now it so happened that the king of that place had a beautiful daughter named Vasanti. She was in love with a young man whose name was also Haribal. Both of them had planned to escape in disguise and had decided to meet at that temple for the purpose. Accordingly Vasanti came there after dark on a horse along with the costly garments, precious jewelry etc. Her lover however found out the plan too risky and did not turn up. Vasanti could not see anything in the dark and was trying to get her lover calling by his name. But there was no response. As she called again and again, Haribal, the fisherman responded. She came close by and grasped his hand with love. Then she asked him to sit behind her on the horse back and eloped with him in darkness.
In the morning when she saw Haribal, she realized what mistake she had committed. It was however not possible for her to go back because her father was sure to punish her for her adventure. This Haribal was also handsome. She therefore decided to accept what destiny had planned and accepted him as her husband. Haribal realized how the observance of a simple restraint had rewarded him and decided to observe all possible restraints. They went to a city named Vilaspur. By selling some of the jewelry that Vasanti had brought with her, they bought a nice house and started living happily.
Haribal was pleased with the results of the wholesome deeds. He thereupon decided to earn more wholesome Karmas by being useful to the people in need and used the wealth on his hand for charitable purposes. Soon he got known as a charitable person and his reputation spread all around. Once he was invited to the court by Madanveg, the king of Vilaspur. He was pleased by the manners of Haribal and accepted him as a permanent invitee to the court. Soon they became good friends and used to visit each other's place.
Once the king happened to see Vasanti and was immensely struck by her beauty. He thought that she was worth being his queen and decided to get her somehow. In order to get rid of Haribal, the king once said to him that he wanted to celebrate the wedding of his daughter and asked Haribal to go to Lanka for extending invitation to the king Vibhishan. Lanka was too far away across the sea and the way was infested by all types of risks. Madanveg thought that Haribal could never return and he could therefore easily seduce Vasanti in his absence. Straightforward as Haribal was, he did not doubt the king and accepted the mission.
When he got home, he told Vasanti what had happened. She could see through the game of the king and tried to dissuade Haribal from going so far away. Haribal however wanted to keep his promise to the king. He therefore consoled Vasanti and said that everything should be okey on account of their wholesome deeds. Then he made the necessary arrangements for the long journey and one day proceeded towards Lanka. Crossing a number of rivers, mountains and forests, he came to the southern coast across Lanka. While he was thinking how to cross the sea, the heavenly being who had promised to help in difficulty, appeared. He flew with Haribal on his back and got him down in a lovely garden in Lanka.
Moving around the garden, Haribal came across a lonely palace. With curiosity he went inside but did not see any one. When he reached the top floor, he saw there a very beautiful girl lying unconscious in captive state. Nearby he saw a vessel full of nectar-like liquid. He sprinkled it on her and to his surprise, the girl gained consciousness. Then he released her from the bondage. So she got up and said that her name was Kusum and was the daughter of a king's favorite. Her father had acquired miraculous capabilities. He wanted to marry her because the astrologers had told him that whoever married her, was destined to be the king. Since she refused to oblige her father, he was keeping her in the lonely place in captive state.