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DISCOURSE 15
25:
The death of her husband; the birth of her son in the forest; and the abduction.... "What is happening ?” She could not understand. She had come away from the bungalow into a forest in order to safeguard her chastity. But in the jungle, she had been abducted. When she recovered her senses, she thought anxiously of her child. She said to the prince, "O hero ! I gave birth to a child in the midnight and I came to the lake to take a bath. What will happen to my son ? He will be either eaten by some wild animal or will die for want of milk. O prince ! Be kind towards me. Take me to my son or at least you bring my son here." The tears flowed from Madanrekha's eyes.
But in this world, all people are not saints and only some have the quality of saintliness. Madanrekha's extraordinary beauty inspired in the prince blinding infatuation. Her beauty had fascinated and provoked his eyes. Madanrekha's sorrow and tears had no effect on him. Man becomes totally heartless and devoid of pity and compassion when he is blinded by a violent attachment or a violent hatred. In the hearts of such people there appears no compassion for others. Seeing Madanrekha's sorrow, he said, “First accept me as your husband and lover. Then I will be ready to fulfil every wish of yours”.
Madanrekha began to shudder with fear and anxiety. But summoning up some courage she asked him, “Who are you?"
The prince said, "There is a city called Ratnavah on the peaks of the mountain, Vaitadya. There ruled a king by name Manichud. I am his son and my name is Maniprabh. My father has crowned me king of my country and he has been initiated into the life of a mendicant. Now, that great Muni is staying on the island called Nandishwardweep. He has gone there to see the magnificent Jain temples and the idols of the Lord there. I too am going there to have a darshan of my father, who is now a great Muni. On the way, I saw you by chance".
MADANREKHA SEARCHES FOR A WAY OUT
Madanrekha heard every word spoken by Maniprabh with deep concentration. She had to find a way out of her distress.
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