Walk With Me

Author(s): Chandanaji Acharya, Vastupal Parikh
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 44

Walk With Me
Sudharma was getting increasingly restless with Ajja Chandana's story. He said, "Ganadhar Gautam, when did all this happen?"
I continued. "This was the tenth year of Mahavir's sadhana. He was now in a forest near Kaushambi, the capital of Vatsa. Sometimes, he would walk to nearby Kaushambi city to beg for food, but had not accepted any food for more than five months.
Bhagwan knew about the war between Shatanik of Vatsa and Dadhivahan of Anga. He knew that Shatanik had won but did not know the fate of King Dadhivahan and his family. He had thought it possible that Dadhivahan may have been killed, and Queen Dharini and Princess Vasumati might be living in Kaushambi with Dharini's sister Mrigavati.
Everybody was worried because Mahavir would not eat. People were counting the days that went by without food for Mahavir. Five months and 25 days had passed without food! As usual, Mahavir was walking the streets of Kaushambi, but today he was near Dhanvah's house in a different part of the city. As he turned the corner he saw a woman in handcuffs, draped in rags, with her crudely shaven head, and a pan of food in her hand. Chandanbala was standing at her doorway. She was surprised to see Mahavir turn the corner towards her house. Suddenly she had tears of joy in her eyes. Her heart was screaming, 'Bhagwan has come... How lucky of me, my Bhagwan has come!”
Sudharma was overcome with intense emotions. He had tears in his eyes. "You are right Ganadhar Gautam! One might think that Chandanbala was crying because of her ordeal, or because she had nothing but dry lentils to offer Mahavir. However, Chandanbala is not
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