THE CLAM OF THE TEMPEST

Dhanapala was the king of Kasi. There was a wealthy merchant, Buddha, in the kingdom. He had a virtuous son Ratisekhara in the same city. There was an ascetic, Dhuliya, who had under his command many vyantara deities. He used to influence people through his miracle. Even the king Dhanapal came under his influence.

Once, one of his disciples came across Ratisekhra. Ratisekhara did not even look at him properly. His temper went high. He spoke to his teacher against Ratisekhra. He called a deity through Betali power, and commander her to kill Ratisekhara. As soon as the deity reached there she began to tremble on looking at the great Jain Ratisekhara. She returned and said, " O fool!, there is no one, neither I nor you, who can kill him through any means." With folded hands the hermit spoke, "O mother!" Do this atleast that his building is baffled by a tempest."

The deity obeyed and the tempest filled the whole palace by dust and soil. On seeing the fierce tempest all the people were frightened. But Ratisekhara could guess that it was the miracle of the cruel and notorious ascetic. He bathed and after meditation began to Chant the seventh stanza of Bhaktamara with Riddhi Chant and all rituals. Due to its influence, there appeared the Jambha deity. She rebuked the Betali power so much, that she immediately ran back to the ascetic and retorted, "Now neither you nor I will be saved. Hence go immediately to Ratisekhara and beg his pardon." He soon ran to Ratisekhra and fell down on his feet. He took the vows of layman. The king Dhanpala was also impressed and adopted Jainism. Thus there arose a great glory of Jain religion.

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