Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 70

the queen as such. It was therefore unbecoming on her part to display such feelings. Abhaya however replied that she was too much enamored of his youthfulness and could not stay without gaining his love. She also assured him that she had made adequate arrangements for keeping their affair a close secret and had taken necessary precautions for his safety too. No harm would therefore come forth by his responding to her gesture. So saying, she tried to grab his hand.
Meanwhile Sudarshan had grasped the gravity of the situation and had made up his mind. He stepped back and said "Your Majesty, I am thankful for all the feelings that you have shown. I am however sorry to state that I am impotent and cannot satisfy your urge. I hope, you will excuse me for my incapability." As she heard it, she was overcome with utter despair. She felt stupid for inviting an impotent man and hated herself for the same. She could no longer bear his presence. She kicked him in disdain and virtually drove him out. Sudarshan breathed a sigh of relief. He was happy that he had been out of her clutches at last. He felt sorry that he had to tell a lie. It was however his duty in distress and hoped that God would forgive him for that lie. Since then he decided to stay away from the queen at all costs. He however did not know that it was not the end of the drama in which he was destined to play further role.
After a few months, there came a great festival and all the people had been out for picnicking in the state garden. The queen also had been there along with her entourage. There, she happened to see the sons of Sudarshan. She was struck by the handsome boys and inquired about them. One of her maids told her that they were the sons of Sudarshan. Abhaya was taken aback to hear that. Her heart experienced a jolt to learn that Sudarshan had befooled her by talking about his impotency. She however managed to absorb the shock. Hiding her inner feelings, she simply said that she was pleased to see such smart and handsome boys. Thenceforth, she became all the more intent to gain the love of Sudarshan.
How to bring Sudarshan to the palace was a problem for her. It was noticed by her maids that Sudarshan used to meditate in a nearby place during Paushadh which he used to observe every fortnight. Thereupon Abhayä asked Kapilä to arrange for tying him during his meditation and bring him tight to the palace. Accordingly one day he was tied while he was meditating and was brought to the queen in that state. Abhaya was pleased that she had ultimately got hold of him. She gently released his bondage and said that he had earlier escaped under a wrong excuse. Now she would not let him go without gaining his love. No alternative was then left to Sudarshan except saying plain 'No'. Abhayä repeatedly asked him to abide by her wish and otherwise threatened to complain to the king that Sudarshan had entered her room with illicit motive.
Sudarshan could realize the fate that overlooked him, if he did not act as demanded by the queen. For him however, the observance of restraint was more important than saving his life. He therefore remained unperturbed and firmly declined to accept her offer. Thereupon, Abhaya tore her own clothes and started shouting that some miscreant had entered her room in order to rape her and called for succor. The watchmen on duty immediately ran towards her room and arrested Sudarshan. The next day he was brought to the court. It was easy to make out that Sudarshan had entered the palace in order to rape the queen who had to resist his attack. Her tattered clothes were the proof of the encounter between the two. He was sentenced to death for that heinous act.
During those days the people sentenced to such inglorious death were laid on the very sharp edge of a long conical pole that was called Shuli. The term literally means thorn like. The pole is flat at the bottom and continually tapers off upwards till it becomes needle like sharp at the upper edge. As the culprit is laid upon it, the sharp edge would pierce the body of the unfortunate man and by sheer weight he would come down with a burst body. It was decided to lay Sudarshan on Shuli for his abominable crime. Every one was shocked to learn that so called virtuous Sudarshan had indulged in such offense and had come out to watch him laid on Shuli. At the appointed time, he was taken up a ladder and was laid on the top of Shuli.