Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 244

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CHAPTÉR EIGHT gold pieces. In this way in course of time he married five hundred women and he gave each of them ornaments covering the body. When the turn of one came, then she, wearing all her ornaments, her body anointed with bathing and unguents, was prepared for sporting with him. Sometimes all his wives had a very subdued appearance; otherwise, he taught them by scoldings and beatings, et cetera. Because of excessive jealousy, alert for their protection, he did not leave the house-door at all, like a harem-guard. He did not give food even to his own people in his house and he himself did not eat in other houses, because he did not trust them (his wives.)
One day, though he was unwilling, he was taken somehow by a friend to his house to eat. For this is a sign of friendship. Then his wives thought: ‘Alas for wealth ! Alas for youth ! Alas for life! Since we are shut up in prison, as it were. Like a messenger of Yama, this wicked husband of ours does not leave the door. Today after a long time, fortunately he has gone elsewhere. Now for a moment we shall do as we please.'
With this idea, after bathing, they put on unguents, ornaments, choice wreaths, et cetera. While they were looking at themselves in mirrors, the goldsmith came and was angry, when he saw them. The wretch beat one of the women so hard that she died, like a lotus crushed by an elephant's foot. The others took counsel: “He will certainly kill us. So, together we shall kill him. He has been protected long enough !
Reflecting in this way, unhesitatingly they threw four hundred and ninety-nine mirrors, like cakras, at him. He died at once. The women, remorseful, set fire to the house like a funeral pyre and perished instantly.
Because they died in a state of remorse with involuntary wearing away of karma, the four hundred and ninety-nine were born in a human status. By the bad contrivance of fate, living by theft, they joined together in course of time and