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ing in the sky, a terrible hurricane broke out, and inspite of their persistent efforts, the ship wrecked, and with it all the merchandise and the crew went into the sea. But the two brothers Jinapalita and Jinaraks'ita, were seasoned sailors, were undaunted, and luckily they managed to get the support of a large plank of wood; with the support of that plank, the two brothers came to the shore of a large fairy island named Ratnadvīpa. As soon as they landed there, the presiding deity of the island saw them by her Avadhi knowledge. She came to them and with various threats forced them to go with her. The three lived together happily enjoying all sorts of pleasures, in her palace on the island.
But after some days that Deity was entrusted with the work of cleaning the Lavaaņa-sea for twenty one days. At the time of her departure she told the two brothers to live and enjoy there to their heart's content. She told them that the whole beautiful island was always at their command. But she warned them again and again not to visit the southern part of the palace, adding that there was a very dreadful cobra there whose very sight was fatal.
Soon after her departure, the two brothers became very restless; they visited the various parts of the palace and as it usually happens, they had the desire to eat the forbidden fruit ; and so they went to the southern garden. There, a very foul smell pervaded the atmosphere, and they saw a large heap of bones and skeletons. They also came upon a man banging on the gallows, and he told the two brothers his harrowing tale. The two brothers gathered from him, that it was the practice of the Deity to enjoy with the men whom chance brought to the island, till her lust was satis. fied, and then after she grew tired of them, to kill them by such brutal means, and again to search for new and fresh victims. The thought that their lives were also in the same boat chilied their bones to the marrow. But the man on the gallows told them of a remedy, viz., to worship and follow the Yaks'a named S'ailaka,
According to his suggestion, the two brotbers worshipped the Yaksa, and the Yaksa promised to carry them safely to Campā on condition that they will remain firm
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
