Way of Life Part 4

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 58

THE WAY OF LIFE
room in an adjacent room. She was standing alone there. The members of that family were quite familiar with the sadhviji.
A PEACOCK SWALLOWED A GOLD NECKLACE
A peculiar incident took place in the room where the sadhviji was standing and the sadhviji was greaily amazed by it. A gold necklace studded with gems lay on the cot in that room. Near the cot on the wall, there was the picture of a peacock painted. Strangely enough, that painted peacock became alive; swallowed the garland and again became a picture on the wall.
From the Audience: How can such a thing happen?
Maharajashri: This is the work of an evil spirit. Some evil spirit did that out of curiosity. The sadhviji could understand this. But how could the merchant's wife believe it? After coming out of the bathroom, the merchant's wife respectfully saluted the sadhviji. Then she went to the cot to take up her necklace but it was not there. She thought, “I placed my necklace on this cot. I remember it very well. What happened to my garland ?” She looked towards the sadhviji and asked,
"When you came here did you see my necklace on this cot? I am sure, I placed it there”.
The sadhviji replied, "Yes, the necklace was lying on the cot but then an incident occurred which nobody would believe. Your necklace mysteriously vanished”.
The sadhvi narrated to her what actually happened. But the story did not sound credible to her. She thought, "No one has come here except this sadhviji. When she saw the gold necklace studded with the precious gems even she was tempted. She must have stolen my necklace".
THE SADHVIJI WAS ACCUSED OF COMMITTING A THEFT
The merchant's wife accused the sadhviji of having stolen her necklace. The news spread first in the family and then it spread like wildfire in the whole city. The sadhviji was stupe