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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsur Gyanmandir
and captured many spoils, among them a beautiful princess named Chandana. The girl was brought to the marketplace in Kaushambi and sold as a slave. A wealthy merchant of the city, attracted to her beauty bought her to be his personal serving maid. He took her to his home and looked after her well, becoming fond of her and accepting personal service from her. On one occasion, while the girl was bathing his feet, his wife saw him touch the girl's beautiful long hair. When she saw this she felt resentment and jealousy toward this beautiful voung girl in her home. As soon as the merchant left on his next journey, she seized the unfortunate girl, cut off her long hair, clapped her in irons and locked her in a cell without food.
After three days the merchant Dhanavaha returned to find the girl locked in chains and hungry. He was shocked, and hurriedly looked for something for her to cat. All he could find were some black beans lving in a basket, intended for the cows. So he gave her these, then hurried off to find a blacksmith to release her from the chains
Mahavira had now been fasting for five months and twenty-five days. Just at this moment, he arrived at the merchant's house to begalms. The girl stood in the open doorway, unable to come out and still holding the basket of beans in her hand when she saw Mahavira's saintly countenance she forgot her own troubles and wanted to help him, so she offered all she had the black beans still lying in their wicker basket.
It seemed that all Mahavira's conditions were fulfilled, but he turned away and was on the point of leaving, for one condition still remained. At this, tears of pity welled up in the girl's eyes. He noticed her tears and halted for they fulfilled his final requirement. There in the courtyard of the house he happily accepted her offering in his cupped hands, and sat down to eat.
In that instant a light shone all around and gold coins showered from the heavens. The chains fell from the girl's ankles and turned to gold. Her appearance was transforned back into that of a beautiful princess, and her face glowed with happiness.
The people of the town heard the news and were both happy and sad. They were happy because at last Mahavira had broken his fast, and the princess had been freed from her unjust captivity. But they were unhappy because they realized that their own wealth and the war on which it had been based, had made their offerings unacceptable to Mahavira. No more would they harm or imprison others, they resolved. and so they gave up violence and lived in peace.
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