________________
95
floor of a seven-storied palace in an apartment of royal splendour, and gave her only a single slavewoman to wait upon her.
JAINA LITERATURE IN TAMIL
Now one day a young man of station was caught in the act of robbery. They bound his hands behind his back and led him to the place of execution, scourging him with lashes at every cross-road. The merchant's daughter heard the shouts of the crowd, said to herself, "What is that?", looked down from the top of of the palace, and saw him.
Straightaway she fell in love with him. So great, in fact, was her longing for him that she took to her bed and refused to eat. Her mother asked her, 'What does this mean, my dear daughter ?'. 'If I can have that young man who was caught in the act of committing robbery and who was led through the streets, life will be worth living; otherwise I shall die here and now'. 'Do not act in this manner, my dear daughter; you shall have someone else for your husband, someone who is our equal in birth and family and wealth'. 'I will have no one else; if I cannot have this man, I shall die.'
The mother, unable to pacify her daughter, told the father but the father likewise was unable to pacify his daughter. 'What is to be done?", thought he. He sent a thousand pieces of money to the king's officer who had captured the robber and who was accompanying him to the place of excecution, saying, "Take the money and send the robber to me.' 'Very well' said the king's officer. He took the money and released the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
