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The Value of Chastity
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ZARAANSE BOARDS BRNOON LEAN ENNA BE A TITELLER JAKKER JER MAGPIE CAMER
Subhadra to him in marriage. But when Buddhadas returned to Champanagari with Subhadra, he threw out his adopted guise of a Jain youth, because its purpose was served.
When Subhadra came to know she had been deceived, she was stunned and hurt, but, because of her inner strength, faced the situation boldly and courageously. As the only Jain in a Buddhist family, she was taunted and ridiculed, but she held her head high and kept her religious resolution.
One day, a Jain monk practising abhigraha came to Buddhadas's house to collect alms. Subhadra gave him alms joyfully. When he was leaving, however, she noticed tears falling from his eyes due to a straw stuck in his eye, and knew that monks practising abhigraha do not take care of their bodies. Not able to bear the pain in the monk's eye, Subhadra went to him and drew the straw out with her tongue. Her mother-in-law, who witnessed the incident, yelled at her, "You have blemished our home by your indecency! You didn't feel shy of touching the monk? You boast of the Jain religion. Does your religion encourage such activities which are against monastic discipline? Does it not promote lewdness?" The whole family was furious and tried to force her to convert to Buddhism, though she was adamant on her views. Even Buddhadas also expressed doubt on Subhadra's character and started scolding her for the act. Ultimately he stopped speaking to her. She however tolerated everything and indulged in spiritual practices even more.
When the news spread to others in the city, the
