Lay Followers
Malayasundari
मलयासुंदरी · મલયાસુંદરી
A jealous stepmother, a brave prince, and a princess who forgave everything
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Shvetambar telling
Princess Malayasundari and Prince Mahabal love each other, but her jealous stepmother sets one trap after another to tear them apart. Their courage, their faith and in the end their forgiveness turn every thorn into a flower.
What it teaches Forgiveness Faith Karma
The opening of the children's telling
Once there was a kind princess named Malayasundari. Her stepmother, Queen Kanakvati, was jealous of her and wanted to make trouble. But Malayasundari was always gentle and patient, just like her own mother.
Malayasundari loved a brave and good prince named Mahabal, and he loved her too. But Kanakvati told lies about them to the king, and the king believed her.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
When others scatter thorns, we need not scatter them back.
To talk about together
Why do you think Malayasundari chose to forgive Kanakvati, even after so much suffering?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.