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SUPĀRSVANĀTHACARITRA
307 power of moonlight. How are you not giving the comfort to animals, men, and gods, which you give even to hellinhabitants, by all the kalyāṇas? Even the light in the three worlds at the festival of your birth becomes red from the sun of omniscience that will rise. All these heavens have now become favorable, as if from contact with your favor, Supreme Lord. These pleasant winds blow for the sake of purification. Indeed, who would cause anything displeasing to the world when you, O Lord, are giving pleasure ? Shame on us negligent. These seats of ours, by the shaking of which your birth-kalyāņa was announced to us instantly, are blessed, O god. Now I make a nidāna " though it is forbidden, O god : namely, as the fruit of the sight of you, may I have unceasing devotion to you."
Childhood (46–52) After this hymn of praise Sakra took the Lord, went quickly and laid him unperceived by Queen Pţthvi's side, according to custom. Delighting the people by remarkable things, such as releases from prison, the King made a great festival, the tree with fruit of joy. Since his mother was 'beautiful-sided' while he was an embryo, Pratistha conferred the name Supārsva on the Lord. The Lord grew by drinking nectar that had been put in his thumb by Sakra. The Arhats are to be praised even by the gods since they do not nurse. Getting down repeatedly from their laps with the restlessness usual to children, tricking his nurses again and again, the Lord played here and there. The Lord easily defeated the gods who played (with him) in mortal forms for wagers. Who, even in play, are the equals of the Arhats ? Gradually, the Supreme Lord passed his childhood, playing in various plays, like a lover the night.
148 45. See above, n. 29.
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