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102
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
know that the queen is a follower of the saints of the Parshwa tradition? Do they not know that Lord Mahavira belongs to the queen's faith?'
The counsellor presented himself to the Lord He conveyed the concern of the king, the queen, his own wife and the townsmen and humbly prayed to him to break his fast However, the Lord uttered no word The counsellor went home disappointed
The Lord conducted himself as before He would visit various doors and return the situation was awful The town was engaged in discussing it The fifth month was passed mealless Twenty-five days of the sixth month also elapsed
The townsmen eagerly awaited the news of his breaking the fast The eagerness was now turned into impatience They were introspecting themselves The infernal act of invasion on Kaushambi and its plunder appeared in their vision The king felt, possibly the Lord was expiating for his war-like sins
Chandana recapitualated her royal past The luxurious life of the past now appeared like a dream to her The memories of Champa palace engrossed her The black-grams lay before her
It was the twenty-sixth day of the sixth month The Lord left for his usual beat A few people followed him The Lord visited Dhanawaha's place He did not halt at the kitchen He went on to where Chandana sat at the threshold She became aware of a figure She scrambled to her feet She presumed without throwing a glance that her adopted father had arrived with a blacksmith The moment of freedom is come at last
But it was the Father of the universe that stood before her She saw and her intution said, 'Ah! it must be Lord Mahavira' She was wild with joy There was twinkle in her eyes She was jubillant Gone were the thoughts of destitution
The Lord stood before her He saw before him the misery incarnate of Vasumatı he had envisioned And still the picture missed something vital—the tears The Lord turned back Chandana was broke A fiasco at this long last 1 Tears streamed
