Book Title: Life of Lord Mahavira
Author(s): Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

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Page 161
________________ 88] The Life of Lord Sri Mahavira and her braid of hair as dark as lamp-black became longish. Even individuals barren of natural beauty become more lovely during youth, then what to say about a royal princess. who is endowed with natural beauty and charm, Mula Sethäni, out of spite, thought: Why is it not possible to believe that Dhanavaha Seth may marry her, and may make her the mistress of the house? I should, therefore, be always ready for disfavour." One day, distressed by the heat of summer Dhanavaha Seth returned home from a neighbouring market place. At that time, there was no servant ready who can do the work of washing Seth's feet, so Candană out of politeness, got up to wash his feet. Dhanavaha. Seth gently forbid her, but she began to wash his feet considering him to be her own. father, When she was washing Seth's feet, her long braid of hair became loose and fell on the ground. So, best "It may not fall into mire." Dhanavaha took it by means of a sporting stick held in his hand, and tied it up with a dispassionate mind. The wicked Mula Sethapi always alert in finding out her faults and imputing wrong motives saw it from the balcony of the house. With her eyes red with anger resulting from personal envy and with extremely mean heart born out of feminine nature, Mula, thinking Candana to be impious on account of a wrong impression created in her mind became ready to seek her ruin. When, after resting for a while Dhanavaha Seth went out to the market place, Mula Sethani burning with the fire of intense animosity sent for a barber, got Candana's head clean-shaved, beat her severely, applied iron chains tightly round her feet, locked her in a distant part of the house and after closing the doors tightly, she told the servants of the house: "If any one informs the Seth about this incident, he will meet with a similar punishment. Even if Seth makes enquiries with great pertinacity, none should tell the truth". Mula instructed her servants repeatedly in the same strain. When in the evening Dhanavaha enquired 'Where is Capdapă? No one answered him. Thereby he thought: She must be playing on the terrace". On the second day, Candana was not to be seen. On the third day, Dhanavaha became greatly disturbed when he could not get any information. Becoming greatly excited he told the servants: "Ah! give me the true account about Candana; otherwise I will punish you. This false show of ignorance dose not in the least indicate your cleverness". On hearing these angry words of Seth, an old maid servant told the true story about the Candana, and showed him the house in which Candana was locked up. Dhanavaha went there and opened the door of the apartment. On seeing Candana with her head shaved, with her body distressed with hunger and devoid of her beauty like a lotus-garland crushed under the feet of an intoxicated elephant, then Seth with his eyes flooded with an incessant flow of tears said: "O daughter, be calm", Having consulted her, Seth went to the kitchen. He examined all the utensils of keeping food but he could not get a morsel of food. So he took adada (phaseollus) beans in a supadun and handing them to Candană, he said: "Child! I am calling a blacksmith for breaking your chains. In the meanwhile, you eat this beans." On seeing the beans lying before her, like a female elephant separated from her folk, Candana, lamenting her sorry plight said "Ah! Fate! When you gave me birth in Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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