________________
34
JINARAKSHIT AND JINAPAL
Konik, the son of King Shrenik ruled in
Champapuri, some twenty five centuries ago.
Here also lived a rich merchant named Makandiya. His wife Bhadra had two sons: Jinarakshit and Jinapal. Both the sons were very adventurous. They went overseas and earned a lot of money.
One day, both the sons asked their father to allow them to go abroad again. But their father Makandiya did not approve of their plan. He talked to them about the difficulties and troubles to be faced in a sea-voyage. But the sons persisted in their decision and sailed away.
On the way, their ships met with a disaster. They were caught in a sea-storm. The ships were wrecked and cargo worth many thousands of rupees was lost. Both the brothers also began to sink into the sea. But fortunately, they got hold of a broken plank and reached the shore of Ratnadwip.
Now, there was a place in the middle of this island. A witch (evil spirit) named Ratna lived in that place. There were four gardens in the four corners of it. Ratna saw the two men in a sad and forlorn state. She thought that she was lucky
109
