Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 222

BIRTH, MARRIAGE, AND EXILE OF RĀMA AND LAKŞMAŅA 187
Ayodhyā. Enemies are devoted to trickery. Then Queen Sinhikā attacked them like a man, defeated and put them to flight quickly. Does a lioness not slay elephants ? After conquering the north, Naghuşa returned one day and heard the news of his wife's victory. He reflected:
"This action, in which boldness is displayed, difficult even for men like me, is not suitable for women belonging to noble families. Now certainly she is not a good wife. For good wives, whose husbands are their gods, do nothing except service to their husbands, to say nothing of such a thing."
With this decision the king put aside Sinhikā quickly, though very dear, like a broken statue. One day, a burning fever developed in Naghuşa and, like an evil enemy, did not become extinct even from a hundred remedies. To show her wifely fidelity and to destroy her husband's pain, Sinhikā took water and went near him. She took an oath, “If I have never looked at any other man except you, may your fever leave you." Then she sprinkled her husband with water and just then he became free from fever, as if cleansed by nectar. The gods sent a rain of flowers on Sinhikā and the king esteemed her highly from that time as before.
• In the course of time a son, Sodāsa, was borne to King Naghuşa by Queen Sinhikā. One day, King Naghuşa handed over the kingdom to Sodāsa and took mendicancy, the one means to emancipation.
Sodāsa (86–105) At the time of an eight-day festival to the Arhats in King Sodāsa's realm, the ministers proclaimed a cessation of slaughter as in the former realms. They said to Sodāsa, "Your ancestors did not eat meat during the eight-day festival to the Arhats. You also should not eat it." Sodāsa who had always been fond of eating meat said to his cook, “In future you must get meat secretly." 148
148 88. The first 'black market'?