________________
346
few gems and she allowed him to return home. He reached his town in course of time. As soon as Gobhadra went towards his house with an eagerness of seeing his wife, from a distance only, he saw his house covered with much dust, terrifying by harsh bowling noise of dogs lying in pits dug there, full of bu. rrows of numerous rats, and formidable to look at, like a burial place, and with its doors broken to pieces. With a trembling heart on seeing such a deplorable condition of his house, he inquired from a female in his neighbour-hood. On seeing him coming there after a long time, she lovingly invited him to her house, and affer giving him a good seat and having his feet washed, she said "O Gobhadra ! you take your meals first". Burning with grief on seeing the deplorable condition of his house, he again inquired about a detailed account from her. But acting under a popular saying that “An uudesired message should be communicated after meals ", she said, " your wife has gone to her father's house. The rest I will tell you later on. First take your meals now". Although the agony of his heart was increasing, at her pertinacy Gobhadra took his meals". Then taking her seat a little nearer, she sald, Gobhadra I a few days, after your departure your wife Śivabhadrā became greatly ema. ciated either owing to an agony of separation or to some disease, and her body became greatly disturbed with severe griping pains. Even with medicinal treatment, there was no improvement in her condition and shc died within A mubūrta'. On hearing this, with a heart worn out by a thunderbolt of separation, Gobhadra thought as if he would faint, and so, with loud lamentations, he began to cry with a piteous voice. Persons living nearby, tried to pacify his disturbed mind. He then performed death-cere monies of his wife, In course of time, his sorrow diminished.
One day some people advised bim, O Gobhadra! Leave Aside your sorrow and marry again Such is the course of events in this world. He replied. 'Ah! that is very inappropriate. In the first place. Ab! I went to a distant country with the object of acquiring wealth. I got it after suffering hardship for a long time and then I returned home. While coming here an idea
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
