Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 157

....MAHĀVIRA'S WANDERING AS AN ASCETIC 117 one answered. Honest-minded, he conjectured, “ Candanā is asleep.” He did not see her on the next day nor on the third day, either. Filled with fear and anger, the. sheth said to the servants: “ Villains, tell me where my daughter Candanā is. If you know and do not tell, then I shall imprison you." Hearing this, an old female slave among them thought: “I have lived a long time. My death is near. What will Mülā do to me, if the news about Candanā is told?” With this thought, she told the story of Mūlā and Candanā. She went and showed the sheth Candanā's prison. Sheth Dhanāvaha himself opened the door. Dhanāvaha saw Candanā there, suffering from hunger and thirst like a creeper singed by a forest-fire, bound by chains on her feet like a young cow-elephant newly captured, bald from being shaved like a female ascetic, her lotus-eyes filled with tears. Saying, “Be of good courage, child,” the sheth, tearful, went very quickly to the kitchen to get her food. Not seeing any superior food there, by chance Dhanāvaha gave Candanā kulmāşa placed in the corner of a winnowing-basket. “While you eat this, I'll bring a smith to cut your chains," saying, the sheth went outside.
Standing up, Candanā thought to herself: “ Alas! On the one hand is my birth in a royal family; on the other, such a condition as this. In this existence which is like a drama, the plot can change in a moment. This I have experienced. Oh! What shall I do? This kulmāsa is for the purpose of breaking a two-day fast now. If a guest comes, I shall eat after giving him some, not otherwise.”
With this idea, she gave a look here and there from the door. At that time Lord Mahāvīra came for alms in his wandering. “Oh! Here is a suitable person! Oh! Here is a suitable person! Oh! here is a heap of merit for me, since some noble muni has come for alms.” After this thought, the girl started, carrying the basket of kulmāsa. She put one foot inside the threshold and the other outside. But she was not able to cross the threshold because of her chains. Standing there, she said to the Blessed One with tender devotion: