FROM PHYSICAL BEAUTY TO CELESTIAL BEAUTY

The king Dharivahana ruled over Patna city. Ksatrisena was his queen, and had given birth to seven sons and one daughter. The daughter was brought up with special cares as she was the only one. Hence she developed vanity in her behavior. Thinking herself as very beautiful she once began to disrespect the Jina image at the temple as she had no affection for the Jainism. "Neither there garments nor ornaments, without the company of female. When the Lord is like this how could he bestow anything to others. It is like churning water to obtain ghee (butter) as from worship of these images. The Lord Krisna is far better as he sports with the cow tender's wives (gopikas) and is full garments and ornaments. He is happy and makes others also happy" uttered she.

On having left the Jaina temple she saw a Digambara ascetic. She was already in anger, hence began to call him poor, barbarian, shameless, and even spat beetlenut of her mouth on him. Nothing happened to the ascetic but the princess Surasundari become ill on reaching her residence. Her  body could not be cured by any physician as that was the fruition of demerits.

Ultimately the king went to the same ascetic and laid his head on his feet. He told the whole story and begged his pardon again and again. The ascetic emperor gave a pot full of water spelled by the 36th stanza of Bhaktamara stotra and Riddhi chants. She was to be bathed by it. 

Soon after washing her body she became as beautiful as before but without any vanity in her heart. She took the Aryika's vows from the ascetic and after an equananimous death she attained the divine life-course capable of achieving freedom in he next life-course.

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