________________
225
crocodiles, fishes etc. Besides, it seemed that the crookedness of the heart of Vardhamāna Kumāra, apprehending danger, left the heart and entered his hair. Although he was naturally endowed with very little affection for worldly: objects, Love dreading future danger, could not find an abode in the palms of hands, soles of feet, and the lower lip of Vardhamāna Kumāra.
MARRIAGE On seeing the youthful beauty of Vardhamāna Kumāra, which surpassed the beauty even of the Indras of gods and demi-gods, some of the neighbouring kings sent their representatives to King Siddhārtha, for the purpose of giving their daughters in marriage with Vardhamāna Kumāra. The representatives of the kings went to King Siddhartha and said "O Lord ! delighted by the excellence of beauty of Vardhamāna Kumāra, our kings have sent us with a request to accept their daughters in marriage with him. We are waltng for your reply." The king said "We shall deliberately think over the subject; for the present you go to your respective homes." The representatives of the kings, then, went away. The king narrated the matter before the queen. The queen, becoming immensely delighted, said “O Lord ! By your grace, I have been able to accomplish every thing I possibly can. I have enjoyed happiness previously undreamt of. Now, if I am able to see the marriage-festival of Vardhamāna Kumāra, Isball feel myself as having perfectly fulfilled a sacred duty of my life " The king said “O queen ! then, if possible, you go to the Prince and inforın him about his marriage-proposal." The queen replied “O great king! it is not proper that I should
| inform him. Princes are bashful and thereefore his friends should be instructed to inform him." With the advice of the queen, some of the friends of Vardhamāna Kumāra were instructed to inform him about the marriage-proposal. They went to Vardhamāna Kumāra and respectfully narrated the whole affair to him. Vardhamāna Kumāra listening patiently to them, said “O worthy people ! do you not know the inclina. tions of my mind ? Do you not know about my abhorence to
29
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
