Mahabal Malaya Sundari Diwakar Chitrakatha 058

This Jain text, "Mahabal Malaya Sundari Diwakar Chitrakatha 058," tells a captivating story of love, virtue, and overcoming adversity, rooted in Jain principles. The narrative centers around Mahabal Kumar, the son of King Soorpal, and Malaya Sundari, the virtuous daughter of Queen Champakmala and King Viradhaval.

The story begins with King Viradhaval and his queen Champakmala, who is pious and virtuous. His other queen, Kanakamala, is cruel and jealous. Champakmala faces hardships, including a fabricated death and being imprisoned by a demon. However, through her devotion and the grace of the Chakreshvari Devi, she is saved and later gives birth to a son, Malyaketu, and a daughter, Malaya Sundari. Meanwhile, Prince Mahabal, known for his nobility and bravery, encounters a temptress in the forest, demonstrating his strong moral character and resistance to lust. He is blessed with divine powers, including shape-shifting and controlling others.

The paths of Mahabal and Malaya cross when Mahabal visits Chandravati city with his father's minister. They are instantly drawn to each other, recognizing a connection from past lives. Malaya sends Mahabal a love letter, and they arrange a secret meeting. Kanakamala, ever the antagonist, discovers this and alerts King Viradhaval, creating a dramatic scene. Mahabal, using his shape-shifting powers, disguises himself as Queen Champakmala to evade the king's suspicion. This incident, however, leads to the unjust exile of the true Queen Champakmala due to Kanakamala's machinations.

Later, the magical Lakshmipunj necklace, important to Mahabal, is stolen. While chasing the thief, Mahabal encounters Queen Kanakamala, who has joined a gang of thieves. Kanakamala instigates the chief of the thieves to kidnap Malaya. Mahabal rescues Malaya from the bandits, and they return to the city.

Upon their return, they learn that Malaya is to be put to death. Mahabal devises a plan, posing as an astrologer, to prove Malaya's innocence. He arranges for Malaya to be found in a box, with the condition that only someone who can open it will marry her. Mahabal, disguised as a yogi, succeeds in opening the box, revealing Malaya and himself, thus averting her execution and leading to their joyous marriage.

The narrative then shifts to Mahabal and Malaya's life in Pratishthanpur. Kanakamala, still driven by revenge, falsely accuses Malaya of being a witch and a cannibal, leading to Malaya's unjust exile and abandonment in the forest. In the forest, Malaya, through her unwavering devotion and adherence to her religious vows, is protected by a lion and finds refuge in a cave. She gives birth to a son there.

Meanwhile, Mahabal, upon learning of Malaya's plight, embarks on a quest to find her. He discovers her in the city of Tilakpur, where she has been taken in by the local king after being found in the jungle. Mahabal proves his identity and his right to Malaya and their son, overcoming the king's tests with his divine powers.

The story concludes with Mahabal and Malaya returning to their kingdom. Both King Soorpal and King Viradhaval, after listening to the teachings of Acharya Chandrasen Suri, renounce their worldly possessions and embrace asceticism. Mahabal inherits all three kingdoms and rules justly. Eventually, he also renounces the world, passing on his responsibilities to his son.

The underlying message of the story emphasizes the consequences of evil deeds fueled by jealousy and hatred, and the ultimate triumph of virtue, chastity, generosity, and unwavering faith in God and one's religious principles. The text also includes a concluding moral fable about the dangers of attachment to worldly pleasures, comparing them to drops of honey that lead to ultimate destruction.