________________
177
The queen suffering immensely from the pangs of love appeared as if captivated by an evil-spirit. The maid-servant of the queen, realizing the inner-most idea of her mistress said "I will bring that young man to you." The maid-servant went to Lalitānga Kumāra, the son of Samudrapriya Séth, and said in private, “ My mistress, queen Lilāvati, is very anxious to have sexual enjoyment with you.” He said "I am also desirous of her. When there is an opportunity, let me know it and I will come " The maid-servant informed her mistress accordingly.
The king, very seldom, went out, and so, such an oppor tunity was not possible. However, one day, getting a suitable opportunity, the inaid-servant brought Lalitānga Kumāra, who had put on costly garments and valuable ornaments, to queen Lilāyati. Mean-while, the king happened to arrive there. The maid-servant concealed Lalitānga Kumāra in a deep cess-pool in the palace, and told hini, “Do not utter a word. The king is here. If he comes to know that you have come here with such an object, he will kill you by the point of a spear." Lalitāniga Kumāra greatly terrified, remained there in complete seclusion. While te was there, the queen, out of compassion for him, used to give him food. Lalitānga Kumāra kept body and soul together by the meagre food given to him. But he became very miserable by experiencing the horrible stench of the cess-pool and by remembering the happiness of his family life.
During the rainy season, wafted away by the filthy water over-flowing from the cess-pool, over the conduit channel, Lalitānga Kumāra was dragged to the extreme end of the main cess-pool of the rampart of the town, His mother saw him there in a wretched condition. He had fainted. He was brought home in an unconscious state. He was brought to his senses by cold-water ablutions and other means. When Lalitānga Kumăra came to his natural state of health, his relatives asked him, “Where were you for such a long time ?” Overpowered by shame, Lalitānga Kumāra could not utter a word.
23
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
