________________
DISCOURSE 14
247
coloured by the right knowledge is another thing. Even noble thoughts get annulled at the time of an adversity but the thoughts that are coloured by the right knowledge and that are leavened by the right knowledge remain intact even in the midst of an adversity.
Now-a-days, even great scholars say this, "What shall we do? We had great confidence but he does not realise what is right and does not discard his wicked ways. We have nothing but contempt for him. We believe that it is a sin to see his face. After his death, he will surely go to Naraka (hell)". They say such things. Where is mental vision in this? Where is sense ? Now, Madanrekha began to think of her safety and the safety of her chastity. She felt that it was not proper to remain in the palace. Moreover, she was pregnant. Nine months of pregnancy had passed. She had also the fear that Manirath in his fury might kill her and if he did so; even the child in the womb would die. So, she decided that she should not remain in the palace. She took her son, Chandrayash to a secret place and gave him the necessary advice and warning to be careful. Chandrayash was young. His mind was agitated by these extraordinary incidents. After having entrusted to Chandrayash the duty of performing the obsequies of Yugabahu, she went away into the darkness of the night.
MADANREKHA GOING INTO A FOREST
She went away from the city because she had no desire for the graces of her earthly life and she desired to safeguard her chastity. If she had any interest in life, she would not have ventured out thus. She would not have voluntarily gone away thus and paid the price of landing herself in a helpless condition but for her desire to safeguard her chastity. Her heart was overflowing with amity for other beings but she did not care for her own happiness. She was selfless with respect to her own life. This is a secret of the feeling of amity. The man or woman who does not care for his own or her own happiness can really have amity for other beings. Only such a person can think of others' happiness. Those who think of their own
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
