Book Title: Way of Life Part 1
Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

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Page 235
________________ DISCOURSE 13 225 and may even kill her. King Manirath killed his younger brother Yugabahu, why? It was on account of an attachment for the inert body. Have you heard that story? MADANREKHA, THE WOMAN OF GREAT CHASTITY There was a city called Sudarshanpur in the kingdom of Malwa. Manirath was the king of that country. Yugabahu was his younger brother. Madanrekha was the wife of Yugabahu. She was absolutely beautiful. She was not only beautiful but also a woman of great chastity, possessed of good fortune and possessing noble traits of character. Normally, such a combination of graces and excellences is rare. One or two in a thousand combine in themselves such physical graces and ethical excellences. If a beautiful person is also a person of noble character and ethical excellence such a person is said to be very greatly fortunate, merited and blessed. Madanrekha was a woman of such graces and excellences. She was absolutely loyal and faithful to her husband, Yugabahu. She never entertained even the slightest thought of desiring the company of other men. One day, King Manirath saw Madanrekha. He was amazed by her astounding beauty and he became infatuated with her. Her extraordinary physical beauty fascinated his eyes and mind and made him mad. King Manirath developed a deep attachment and admiration for Madanrekha. Now, he began to pine for her and longed to attain her. The desire appears in a man to attain what he loves; does it not? On account of excessive desire, a man loses his sense and discretion. Was not Manirath aware of the fact that she was the wife of his younger brother? "This lady is the wife of my younger brother. She belongs to him; and he has authority over her. She is the means of happiness for my brother. I should not become enamoured of her. I should not think of attaining her". This kind of sensible thinking does not appear in a mind that is steeped in a stupor of infatuation. Such a man thinks of his own happiness, and plans to achieve happiness for himself even by ruining the happiness of others. Enough. Here, arises enmity. It is called an impure Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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