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328
pure by nature, one hundred bows tall, white-bodied, like the Ocean of Milk embodied. The Master, though thoroughly weary of existence, from regard for his father married princesses who surpassed Śrī in beauty. When fifty thousand purvas had passed since his birth, the Lord, free from desire, accepted the burden of the kingdom from courtesy to his father. Lord Suvidhi, knowing the law, kept the sovereignty for the same length of time ** plus twenty-eight purvāngas.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Initiation (56-63)
The Master desired the vow and the Lokantika-gods, like flatterers, urged the Lord for its sake. Devoid of desire, the Lord of the World, like a wishing-gem of beggars, gave gifts for a year according to desire. At the end of his giving the ceremony of the Supreme Lord's initiation was made properly by the gods, just as at the time of his birth. Then the Lord got into the palanquin Suraprabha and, surrounded by gods, asuras, and men, went to Sahasrāmravaṇa. In the evening on the sixth day of the black half of Mārga (the moon being) in Mūla, together with a thousand kings the Lord became a mendicant accompanied by a two days' fast.
On the next day the Supreme Lord broke his fast with rice-pudding in the house of King Puspa in the city Svetapura. The gods made the five things, the rain of treasure, etc., and King Puspa made a jeweled platform on the place of the Master's feet. With an extraordinary body, free from affection, free from worldly interest, enduring trials, the Lord of the World wandered for four months as an (unenlightened) ascetic.
Omniscience (64-65)
The Lord went again to the grove Sahasrāmravaṇa, and stood in pratima at the foot of a mālūra. When the
461 55. I.e., fifty thousand purvas.
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