Treasury of Jain Tales

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 61

was a dwarf.
Amusician was ushered in and Devadattā asked him to display his talents before the visitor. At the end of his performance Muladeva observed that the lute on which the musician had pliiyed had a slight defect. Both he and Devadatta were surprised but Muladeva discovered a small stone in the reed and a hair sticking to the string. Devadatta was full of admiration. She asked him to visit her daily. During one such visit he told her of the magical medicine that had changed his shape and at her instance assumed his original princely shape which much fascinated her. She was only sorry for his habit of gambling and persuaded him to get out of it. Their love for each other was growing.
Devadatta's mother, however, disapproved of all this; she often spoke to her daughter against her increasing involvement with Muladeva, whom she disliked for being poor in wealth and a gambler to boot. She would not be persuaded by Devadatta's advocacy of Muladeva's accomplishments and talents. Her obvious preference was for one Acala, the son of a very rich merchant who had been loading Devadatta with rich gifts, to which she was indifferent. Her mother now decided to get rid of Müladeva. According to her plan Acala one day arrived when Devadattă was entertaining Müladeva and told her of a dream he had in which he took his bath right on the bed in Devadattā's room and insisted on making it a reality. In the meantime Müladeva hid himself under the same bed and it was difficult for him to go away unnoticed by Acala and the party of hooligans he had brought with him. As the stupid bath was going on Muladeva made an attempt to sneak out but was caught by Acala's men. Müladeva could get out only after making a solemn promise that he would not remain any longer in the town.
He did leave the town. As he was travelling to a place called Venatata his way was through a dense forest and his lone companion was a dreadful Brahmin who would not spare even a morsel of food for Müladeva. After the journey of three or four days in his company Muladeva arrived at a settlement which was very niggardly. He could get barely a handful of beans as alms. He saw a holy man emaciated through a long fast which he intended to