________________
DISCOURSE 89
ELECTIONS MIX POISON WITH LOVE
Here is an incident that took place in Bombay. An election took place in a trust. Two candidates contested the elections. They were brothers. The elder brother won the election and the younger brother was defeated. The fame of the elder brother increased. He was very magnanimous and gentle. The society praised him. The younger brother began to burn with jealousy. The two brothers lived separately. Outwardly, they were friendly. The elder brother, of course, had genuine affection for his brother.
The marriage of the elder brother's daughter was settled and the marriage was to take place. Arrangements were being made for the marriage. He entrusted to his younger brother the duty of getting food prepared and served to the guests. The marriage party came. Arrangements had been made for their meals but very early that morning the younger brother said to him, "Today, I have to go to another town on official business. All the arrangements are made. My wife and children will come but I cannot be present to-day". Saying this, he went away.
225
The marriage party arrived. The marriage took place. The dinner was over but in the night, the younger brother's son became sick. Only the younger brother's wife was at her house. She phoned to her brother-in-law about what had happened. At once, he went there taking his car. The child was unconscious and they admitted the child in a hospital. The doctor said, "Only after twenty-four hours, I can say whether the child can recover or not. He must have eaten some food containing poison".
By this time, a terrible commotion had arisen among the members of the marriage-party. They were all sick. The elderbrother was in great anguish.
THE YOUNGER BROTHER REPENTS
The younger brother returned home in the evening. He found that the door of his house was locked. He went to his elder brother's house. There, he learnt that the condition of his
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org