________________
334
THE WAY OF LIFE
house. Munja was imprisoned in an underground vault. When the underground way opened itself into the vault, Munja found that the opportunity came for his escape from the prison. The ministers came by the underground way; met Munja and explained to him their plan. Munja was greatly delighted. When Mrinal brought food for him and saw him in that cheerful mood, she became suspicious. While he was taking his food, she asked him, “How is it you are so cheerful to-day ?”
Munja replied, “I am delighted by seeing you”.
Mrinal said, “I have been coming here every day but I have not seen you in this cheerful mood at anytime before. There must be some other reason. Please tell me what it is ?”
It was a great secret; it was a very serious matter and it was not be divulged to anyone. Munja was silent. Mrinal was insisting upon knowing the real reason for his cheerfulness.
Munja thought, "I will take Mrinal also with me when I go out from here. She has given me such great happiness in the prison. She is deeply in love with me. She will surely accompany me".
Munja reposing full confidence in Mrinal told her everything about his plan to escape from the prison. Mrinal was delighted to hear this. "Munja will make me his queen". This thought filled her with joy. She said to Munja, "I will go and fetch my casket of ornamets. I will accompany you. Please wait for me"... WHY DID MRINAL'S MIND CHANGE ?
Mrinal went in. She went into her chamber in the palace and began thinking, "Munja has many queens in his harem. All his queens are beautiful. I am not beautiful. After going there with him, if he does not care for me, what will be my condition? Here, except me, he has no other companion. That is why he loves me. I must keep him here. Only then can I get the happiness of his company”.
Please see. Mrinal thought of her own happiness. She could not think of Munja's happiness or sorrow.-Only such things keep happening in Samsar.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
