________________
223
present to King Nanda IX when he paid a formal visit to Sakaờāla at his house during the marriage-ceremony. Vararuci took advantage of this wished-for opportunity. He gathered round him a number of young boys from the street, distributed some sweet-meats, baked peas, etc and taught them to sing the following verse.
न वेत्ति राजा यदसौ, शकडालः करिष्यति ।
व्यापाय नंदं तद्राज्ये श्रीयकं स्थापयिष्यति ॥१॥ Na vétti rājā yadasau, śakaļālah karisyati; Vyāpädya Nandam tadrājyé Śriyakam sthāpayisyati.
1. The king does not know, what this Śakaļāla will do. Having killed Nanda, he will establish śrîyaka on his throne.
Little boys under temptation of sweet-meats went on daily repeating the verse wherever they met.
King Nanda IX himself over-heard the verse, when he was going out for a ride, one day. The king became suspicious about Sakadála. He immediately sent a secret spy to make inquiries at the house of Sakadāla The massenger informed the king about the exact condition of things he saw at Sakadála's house.
When Sakadāla-Mantri went to the king, the next day, to give respects to him, the king sat with his face turned away from him, out of anger. Sakaļāla was informed that the king was very angry with him and that he was thinking of ruining Sakaļāl's entire famliy. śakāļāla went home, explained all the circumstances to Srîyaka, and ordered him "Tommorrow when I bend my head low before the king, at the time of giving my respects to him, you at once cut off my head Cn hearing this, Srîyaka became speech-less. His whole budy began to shake with terror. He told his father“Even an assasin will not do such a cruel act, how can it be done by me?" Sakadala explained, in detail, all the circum
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
