Parabels of Mahavir

Author(s): Harindranath Chattopadhyaya
Publisher: Shri Kiran Publishers

Page 16

THE BIRTH OF THE GOLDEN BABE
When the golden Lord Mahavir was in his mother's womb, she beheld fourteen dreams. The mother's name was Trishala. She was a beautiful woman ! Queen of king Siddhartha, a calm and radiant being who was loved by his people. The queen had already given birth to a son whose name was Nandivardhan; and to a daughter whose name was Sudarshana. The people of the Kingdom said : "The queen is beautiful; so is the princess beautiful. The king is handsome; so is the prince handsome."
And now, when the news spread everywhere that the queen Trishala was with child, they were very happy. “I wonder whether it is going to be a son again", a passerby thought aloud.
“What does it matter whether it is going to be a son or a daughter, anyway'', another remarked.
“In any case, the queen is lovely and what she brings into the world must surely turn out to be lovely'', said an old woman to an old man, her neighbour, while sitting on her doorstep.
"In any case, the king is handsome and whether it be a girl or a boy, there is bound to be a royal light in its face", remarked the old man to the old woman, while he smoked a leaf pipe.
"How well matched they are : King Siddhartha and queen Trishala !" remarked a newly married bride to her bridegroom....