Book Title: Stories From Jainism
Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

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Page 119
________________ Both of them sat there talking for a long time. Then, the monk got up to take leave of his brother. So Bhavadev went to see him off. He took up the monk's begging bowl and accompanied him for some distance. They crossed the outskirts of their village and were on the brink of a forest. But the monk did not ask to return the begging bowl. Nor did Bhavadev seek premission to leave him, though he was eager to go back to his wife. He thought, perhaps, his wife might be waiting for his arrival. Now, the other monks of the monastery saw Bhavadev with a bowl coming with Bhavadutta. They were very glad at this. Their Acharya began to think of the day of initiation of the new comer. Here Bhavadev thought it proper not to express his unwillingness to accept the life of a monk, for that would be taken as an insult by his younger brother. Yet, there was Nagila, whom he could not forsake. Inspite of this dilemma, Bhavadev accepted monkhood. He thought he would remain in the monastery as long as his brother was alive, and then, he would go back to his wife. After a period of twelve years Bhavadutta breathed his last and so the new monk took the homeward route all alone at night. He reached home before dawn. Then Bhavadev saw two women, standing at an old well situated on the road leading to his home. This route passed through a mango grove. These women had a basket of flowers in their hands. 106

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