________________
300
said sincerely to the letter.
The Yaksa went in the north-eastern direction and through magic created a long staff of innumerable yojanas. Then he transformed himself into a horse and asked the two brothers to sit firmly on his back. They were extremely delighted to see the prospects of a rescue, made a deep bow to the Yaksa and mounted his back. The horse flew up into the sky, the height of seven or eight palm trees, and started to cross the Lavana sea with his excellent and brisk gallop. He made towards the city of Campā.
In the meantime, the Ratnadvipa witch finished her twenty one rounds on the Lavana sea and cleaned it up as she was ordered and came back to her palace. She was greatly shocked to see that the two brothers were not there. Then she went out to the eastern grove and looked for them every where but got no trace of them whatever. She tried the northern as well as the western groves as well. She now had no hopes of finding them anywhere on her estate. So she employed her avadhi knowledge to find their whereabouts. Then she saw that they were crossing the Lavana sea with the help of the Yaksa Sailaka. She became furious. She picked up her sword and shield and flew up seven or eigth palm trees high and followed them with the same speed that the horse had taken. She overtook them and started speaking to the two Makandi brothers like this:
"Oh you sons of Mäkandi ! Why do you cross the Lavana sea with this Yaksa" ? You must not forsake me. You must remember this way you are only courting your death. Even now, you may listen to my words and agree to come back. There is great hope for your lives. If you don't, remember I have power enough to cut off your heads from your bodies with this sword which is as dark as a buffalo horn." The two brothers however were not perturbed by these words. When she noticed that they paid no attention to whatever she had said, she began to use sweet and coaxing words and reminded them of all the amorous pleasures that they had enjoyed in her company. How they laughed together, played games together, enjoyed their walks and ramblings through the woods and using many amorous expressions, conjured up before their mind
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
