________________
214
great mountain, began to pour out from the elephant's temples. At once the eye-sight of the elephant became dull and with increasing loss of sight due to bewilderment, the elephant stood steady as if he was lifeless, or in a swoon or as if he were bound tightly by thousands of firm tles, Nara-Vikrama Kumāra got down from the elephant, and having made the lying woman quite comfortable, he had her conveyed to a place of safety. The Kumāra, then, went to his own palace. Elephant-drivers then caught the elephant and pouring thousands of pots filled with cold water on him, they adopted cold methods of cure and applied drugs for the healing of the wound. With great difficulty they led the elephant to his usual abode.
As soon as King Narasimha knew the detailed account of the incident, he was very angry and much grieved at heart. He said: ---"Ah! domestics 1 you go to Nara - Vikrama Kumāra, and drive out the naughty prince from my kingdom. He wounded my Jaya-Kunjara, and still, how is it that the shameless man is, till now, living here ? Abl the goddess pleased by my adventure gave me a bandsome boy who turned out a-mitra (an enemy). Oh! even the gods do not hesitate to deceive; people are silly that they become sorry for want of a son but they do not realize that by the practice of such a misdemeanour they manifestly become inimical. The axlom ngur ofaaffed A-putrasya gotir-năsti. A son-less man has no place (in the next world) is only a mockery of the ignorant. One who turns out an enemy in this world is never expected to give happiness in the next world. Now, tell me how he did not care even for me in wounding the Jaya-Kunjara elephant who was an invaluable asset to my entire kingdom, I protected my kingdom single-handed before, and from now. I shall do it alone. But drive out that enemy of mine. One who is sitting fearlessly after deliberately doing such an unworthy act, will certainly kill me one day and take away my kingdom."
On knowing the firm determination of the king, some of his ministers went sorrowfully to Nara
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
