Rishidatta Diwakar Chitrakatha 046

Author(s): Shantakumari Sadhvi, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

Page 34

RISHIDATTA
Her shrinking influence made the princess jealous towards mendicant Sangama. She started conspiring to insult her and tarnish her image. Inspired by this growing jealousy the princess made a plan and successfully blamed Sangama for being a meat-eating and wine consuming witch. Plagued by this Sangama was also filled with animosity towards the princess, who was pleased with her success.
After death Gangasena reincarnated as Rishidatta, the daughter of King Harishen and queen Pritimati of Tambavati. The king and the queen became hermits and lived in a hermitage where Pritimati died after childbirth. Sage Harishen brought up the daughter. Being the daughter of a sage she became famous as Rishidatta.
Mendicant Sangama died with feelings of revenge and reincarnated as Sulasa Yogini. She took revenge on Rishidatta for her misdeeds of the past birth. Apparently Sulasa put blame of being a man-eater on Rishidatta but in fact it was just a consequence of the misdeed of the past birth.
Hearing about her past birth Rishidatta attained Jati-smaran Jnana. She renounced the world and indulged in spiritual practices to seek liberation.
THE MORAL
Out of recklessness man indulges in misdeeds but when
he suffers the consequences he cries and laments.