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Sajjana told him about the Raulānis, at which the old man exclaimed that it was a matter of pleasure rather than that of sorrow. This conversation was over-heard by minister Santu who was passing by on his way home. He reported the matter to the king, who, on his part, sent a palanquin to Haripala for fetching him to the court. He, however, refused to go to the court, at which the king sent minister Santu personally for the purpose.
Haripala went with him and was duly honoured by the king. He played a nice trick. He got prepared a small sword with its blade made of sugar and its handle, of iron. This glistening sword was handed over to the king, while in court, under the pretext that it was received as a gift from certain king. The king put it in his mouth and swallowed the blade. The remaining part viz. the handle was given to the Raulānis, but they could not swallow it and, thus defeated, they flew away; while due honour was bestowed upon Haripala.
6. THE STORY OF NAMALA THE FEMALE FLORIST
Once, when king Jayasimhadeva returned to Pāta na after a victory-march, his mother Maya naladevi informed him that on his setting out she had taken a vow to Lord Parsvanatha of Dabhoi that if her son returned safe and sound, he would enter the city of Patana after having bowed down to Him. At this he again set out for pilgrimage.
This is how Parsvanatha of Dabhoi originated: In ancient times in order to fulfil a religious vow of Ganga king Santanu himself prepared this idol and threw it into a well. For helping Parikşit Taksaka acted as Dhanvantari and charmed the fig-tree with the holy Darbhagrass. Hence the name Dabhoipura.
Out of the two temples there viz. those of Vaidyanatha and Parsvanatha the king visited the latter, where he learnt that the florist Namala was a woman of the Padmini type since bees thronged around her.
He bowed down to the deity with an offering of a nose-gay of flowers and took lodgings. Then he sent for the florist lady through Dujanasala and Satrusala, the sons of Huna Thepaniyà. Decked with flowerornaments she approached him, and, at his offer, she agreed to become his wife on the condition that none would insult her. Then they returned to the
Capital.
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