Mahavir Prince Of Peace

Author(s): Ranchor Prime
Publisher: Mandala Publishing

Page 41

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Acharya Shri Kalassagarsuri Gyanmandir
He had a reputation for being fearless, good-natured and kind to everyone.
FEARLESS PRINCE
S PRINCE VARDHAMANA GREW he made many friends who looked upon him as their leader, who would be there to look after them whenever they were in trouble. He had a reputation for being fearless. good-natured and kind to everyone.
One day he and his friends were playing a game of tag centered around a large
tree. A circle was drawn on the ground around the base of the tree, and in it a stick was placed. The object of the game was to capture the stick, but without getting caught by the one who was made the catcher. If a boy captured the stick he could throw it far away. The catcher then had to retrieve the stick and return it to the base of the tree before he could attempt to catch anyone else. If in retrieving the stick a boy was caught, he became the catcher. The game was going on, and Vardhamana was the catcher, which gave the boys huge pleasure.
Suddenly, while everyone was laughing and absorbed in their play, a huge cobra appeared beneath the tree. It had a large black head and glowing yellow eyes, and its long body writhed ominously as it reared up and spread its hood, hissing at the boys. They were all terrified and fled as fast as they could. Vardhamana, however, was unafraid. He caught the snake by its tail and whirled it around his head as fast as he could, then threw it far away, out of sight. Then he called all his friends back and promised them it was safe to continue playing their game. They were astonished and crowded round to congratulate their hero.
Unknown to the boys, this was no ordinary snake. It was really a jealous god from Indra's heaven, who had heard Indra speaking the praises of Prince Vardhamana and become so angry that he resolved to fight with him. Being defeated so easily made the evil-minded god even more enraged, so he decided to attack again. This time he disguised himself as one of the friends playing with Vardhamana.
Vardin caught hold of the snake by Install and w a it around thread it
he could threw to far away out of sight.
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