Book Title: Treasury of Jain Tales
Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

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Page 353
________________ 296 fierce waves. Soon after the fierce waves began to whip their ship. It bounced up and fell down like a rubber ball bouncing up and coming down on a hard floor. It looked like a vidvadhara maiden that rose high on the strength of magic lore and fell plumb down as if her magic lore had been lost. In the process their ship darted forward with terrific force as if it was a någa maiden that was scared by the swoop of an eagle. All the masts of their ship broke, the keel was ripped, the rudder bent and even the iron nails wrenched. There was lot of wailing and crying. All its rich merchandise disappeared on the waves and the shrinking and weeping sailors were thrown in the turbulent sea as the ship went under the mountainous waves. The two Mākandi brothers luckily caught hold of a big wooden plank and with a great deal of skill managed to get on to it and drifted away towards an island named Ratnadvipa. This island was fairly extensive, it had lovely trees and groves. Its weather was agreeable. In the midst of the island there was a palace, lofty and big. In it lived a young woman called Ratnadvi padevatā who was extremely wicked but she was equally fascinating. The two Mākandi brothers drifted to the shores of this island. When they came on the beach they left the wooden plank there, rested for a while before they went to explore the island. They discovered coconut trees, they broke open many coconuts, anointed each other's body with coconut oil, bathed comfortably and sat under the shady trees. They thought of their native town, remembered their parents and revived the memory of the terrible gale that destroyed their ship and threw them on the Ratnadvipa island. Ratnadvipadevată learnt through her avadhi knowledge of the arrival of the two brothers on the island. She took a sword and shield in her hands and flew up in the sky and went near the two brothers whom she addressed with harsh and severe words. She ended her angry tirade with the following warning: "Oh you sons of Mäkandi, if you agree to enjoy the various and plentiful pleasures with me here, then alone you will remain alive. If however you do not agree to enjoy them with me, with this sharp sword I shall cut off your heads. I shall tear your faces and bearded cheeks and throw your Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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