Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 285

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thousand years, his ministers showed the King his own family, eager to see him. Then he, fair with virtues, saw Sundari, the full-sister of Bahubali,828 pointed out by his officials naming her, thin like a river drained by the hot season, black like a lotus from contact with a mass of snow, her loveliness destroyed like a digit of the winter-moon, her cheeks pale and emaciated like a plantain-tree with dried-up leaves. When he saw her in such a condition as if she were a different person, the King spoke angrily to his ministers : “Is there never any boiled rice in my house, villains ? Is salt not found in the Lavaņa Ocean ? Are there no cooks skilled in various dishes? Or are they, lazy, stealing their living ? Is there nothing fit to eat here, such as grapes or dates ? Pray, is no gold to be found in Meru ? Have the trees in the gardens ceased to bear fruit ? Do the trees in the grove Nandana not bear fruit? Or is there no milk from the cows here with udders like jars ? Pray, has the cow of plenty gone dry? But if there is an abundance of food, etc., and Sundari eats nothing, then she is sick. If she has some ailment, thief of her health, are not all the physicians dead? Or if divine healing herbs are not to be obtained in my house, Mt. Hima too must now be lacking in herbs. I am grieved to see her so emaciated, like a poor man's daughter. Alas! you have deceived me, like enemies.” Bowing to Bharata, the ministers said, “Every thing is available in your Majesty's house, as in Indra's house. However, from the time your Majesty departed for world-conquest, she has eaten just enough dry food 824 to sustain life. Likewise from the time she was prevented by your Majesty from becoming a mendicant, she has in reality been initiated at heart."
828 732. Bharata's wife.
824 744. Acāmāmla. The same as ācāmla. The present practice in the Tapagaccha is to take one meal a day of dry food, such as plain cooked rice and flour cakes. Salt, pepper, dry ginger may be used; but no ghi nor anything sweet. Water is taken.