________________
MARRIAGE OF KRSNA WITH RUKMIŅI AND OTHERS 193 named Kanakaprabha. Sudarśanā also wandered through many births, after she fell, and became Kanakaprabha's chief-queen, named Candrabhā. Visvaksena installed Madhu on the throne and Kaiṭabha as heir-apparent, took the vow, and went to Brahmaloka.
Madhu and Kaiṭabha having the whole country subdued, Bhima, a village-chief, attacked the country by trickery only. Madhu set out to kill him and he was honored by King Kanakaprabha with food, et cetera on the road to Vatapura. At the end of the meal, his follower (Kanakaprabha) with his wife Candrabhā approached King Madhu with gifts from devotion to his master. After bowing to Madhu, Candrābhā went again to the women's apartments. Madhu, afflicted by love, wished to take her just then even by force. Prevented at that time by his minister, King Madhu went on, defeated the village-chief, Bhima, and came there on his return. Again honored by King Kanakaprabha, Madhu said, 'Enough of these gifts of yours. Let Candrabha alone be given to me.' When, though asked, Kanakaprabha did not give her, then Madhu snatched Candrabhā away and took her to his own city. Kanakaprabha, distracted, fell to the ground in a faint. When he had recovered, he wailed aloud and wandered about like a crazy man.
One day King Madhu was engaged in court-business with his ministers and, without giving his judgment, went to Candrabha's house. Candrabhā asked, 'What has taken so long today?' and Madhu said, 'Today I was occupied with a case of adultery.' Candrabha smiled and said, 'An adulterer should be honored.' Madhu said: Why should he be honored? Adulterers are subject to punishment.' Candrabhā said again, If you are so harsh in law, do you not know that you yourself are the chief-adulterer??
Enlightened at hearing that, he felt ashamed. Then Kanakaprabha came, singing and dancing, on the highway, surrounded by small boys. Seeing him, Candrabha thought: 'My husband has reached this miserable condition from
25 N
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org