________________
SANATKUMĀRACAKRICARITRA
179 spent the time? And how did my honored father live on separation from me? And why did my parents send you alone into this inaccessible place?”.
Questioned thus by the prince, Mahendrasinha, his voice choked with tears, related his past adventures just as they happened. Then Sanatkumāra had him fed, bathed, et cetera, by skilful Vidyadhara-women. After that, Mahendrasinha, his eyes wide open with astonishment, his hands folded respectfully, said to Sanatkumāra: "Please tell me how far you were carried away by the horse then; and what else happened to you during separation from me, beginning with that; and whence this magnificence, if this is not a secret of yours which must be concealed from me."
At these words Sanatkumāra reflected in his mind: "Nothing at all must be concealed from this friend who is ļike myself. Noble men are embarrassed at their experiences being related even by others, though truthfully; how can I tell my own adventures ? Let it be thus.” With these reflections Aśvasena's son instructed his wife seated at his left side, "My dear Bakulamatikā, knowing (all) there is to be known by means of a magic art, tell my true story to Mahendrasinha. Now sleep is making buds of my lotus-eyes.'
His previous adventures in the forest (177-295)
With these words he went to the pleasure-house, wishing to sleep. Then Bakulamati said: "On that day your friend was carried away by the horse, as you looked on. He was made to enter the great forest, which was very terrible like a secret play-ground of the god Samavartin, The next day as the horse went along in the fifth gait, it stopped in the middle of the day, suffering from hunger and thirst, and put out its tongue. Aryaputra 239 got down from the horse, whose throat was filled with breath and
289 180. I.e., 'my husband.'
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
