________________
BIRTH OF AJITA AND SAGARA
45 and Vijayā on their arms, led them to the bath-house, and put them on the couch. Then they stood not too far away and not too close, singing rapidly the shining virtues of the Master and the Master's mother.
Birth-ceremonies presided over by Śakra (244-528)
Just at that time when Sakra, very resplendent, surrounded by crores of gods and of Apsarases, his power being praised by crores of the best bards, a multitude of virtues being sung at length by a troop of Gandharvas, being fanned with chauris by courtesans at his sides, adorned by a very beautiful white umbrella over his head, was seated comfortably, facing the east, holding an assembly in the assembly-hall Sudharmā in the Saudharmakalpa, his throne shook.
Confused by a fit of temper because of the shaking of his throne, his lower lip trembling like a fire with a quivering flame, terrifying from a deep frown like the sky with a comet that has appeared, his face copper-colored like a must-elephant, his forehead marked by three lines like an ocean with high waves, Vajrabhịt looked at his thunderbolt, the destroyer of enemies. Observing his anger, General Naigameşin got up, joined hands in suppliant fashion before him, and said to Prācīnabarhis:
“ Against whom is anger on your own part, when I am the executor of your commands ? There is no superior and no equal to you among gods, asuras, and mortals. After considering the cause of the shaking of your throne just now, command me, who am the giver of punishment, in regard to it, О master.' : When the general had said this, Sakra gave attention and employed clairvoyant knowledge at once. Hari perceived the birth of the second Tirthakrt by clairvoyant knowledge, like dharma by the Jain scriptures, like an object by a light. He thought, “Oh! In Jambūdvīpa in Bhäratavarşa in the city Vinitā the second Jineśvara in this avasarpiņi is born from Queen Vijayā, the wife of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org