Stories From Jainism

Author(s): Mrugendramuni
Publisher: Jain Yoga Foundation

Page 62

relations with him. When he came to know that the woman was the Queen, he addressed her as his mother, and remained firm in his vow not to have any sexual relations with the Queen inspite of her threats of having him killed.
Then the Queen resorted to knavery. She hurt herself by scratching her body with her own nails and teeth and shouted and raised an alarm, “Thief, thief." Soon the guards came in and arrested Vankachula. They tied him and carried him to the King. But Vankachula did not think it fit to narrate the true episode. The King, however, was aware of the encounter of the Queen with the thief and had heard the evil demand made by the Queen, by standing behind a veil.
The King was pleased with the right conduct of the thief, and, therefore, he set him free. He then made him one of his courtiers.
One day an enemy attacked Ujjain. So Vankachula marched with an army to defend the kingdom. He defeated the enemy but was badly wounded in the battle.
The wounded Vankachula was treated by the doctor who prescribed eating of crow's flesh. But he flatly refused to eat it. So the King sent for Jinadas, a friend of Vankachula, hoping that he would persuade Vankachula to partake of the crow's flesh.
When Jinadas set out for Ujjaini two beautiful goddesses were seen sitting across the road, sad at heart.
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