________________
260
THE WAY OF LIFE
appeared. His mind became ennobled and elevated. This is the sublime fruit of the company of Sadhus. Even flaming passions become extinguished when such passionate people come under the influence of great Sadhus. On account of the contact with Sadhus, the terrible fire of passions gets extinguished. In fact, even dreadful sins are destroyed by an intimacy with Sadhus. Maniprabh's mind became so pure and chastened that he stood before Madanrekha and begged for her forgiveness thus : "O, noble lady, from today, you shall be my sister and I your brother. I shall carry out every order and wish of yours". Madanrekha shed tears of joy. She too said with a voice shaken by joyful emotions, "Brother ! You are the great son of a great father. You have done me a great favour by bringing me to this island of Nandishwardweep. You helped me to visit this holy place and to have a darshan of such an enlightened Gurudev. Really I am supremely happy."
MADANREKHA DESIRED TO KNOW FROM THE MUNI THE CONDITION OF HER SON
Madanrekha was happy about three things. The pilgrimage to Nandishwardweep which was all but impossible for her had become easy for her. She had the good fortune of meeting the great Munishwar who possessed the power of reading others' minds and had been able to safeguard her chastity. Now, Madanrekha thought of her new-born son. She desired to ask the great Muni to tell her about the condition of her son. She said to the Muniraj politely :
"Oh great sage ! You have helped me to overcome a great calamity. On account of your supreme grace, I have been able to safeguard my chastity and now I am fearless. O great Lord ! Kindly tell me what has happened to my new-born child whom I left, sleeping in the forest. Kindly tell me this". The Mahamuni said in a voice charged with compassion.
"Madanrekha! What Maniprabh told you by virtue of his Prajnaptividya is true. The King Padmaratha took the child to his palace and gave him to his Queen, Pushpamala. The
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
