________________
BIRTH OF AJITA AND SAGARA
53
Then they
their cars, etc., at the northeast Ratikara. went joyfully to the Master on the peak of Mt. Kañcana (Meru), like travelers in a forest to a tree with much fruit. Then in the city Camaracañcã, the ornament of the south row,91 Camara's throne in Sudharma trembled. Knowing by clairvoyant knowledge the purifying birth of the Tirthakṛt, he took seven or eight steps, and bowed to the Jinesvara. At once at his command the general of the infantry, Druma, struck the sweet-toned bell Oghasvarā. When the sound of Oghasvarā had ceased and the proclamation had been made, the Asuras came to Camara like birds to a tree in the evening. The Abhiyogika-gods, at the command of Camarendra, created in an instant a car measuring fifty thousand yojanas (square). Adorned with a large indradhvaja five hundred yojanas high, the car looked like a boat with a mast.
With sixty-four thousand Sāmānikas, thirty-three Trayastrinśas, four Lokapālas, five queens together with their retinues, three assemblies, and seven armies, seven generals, with body-guards to the number of four times the Sāmānikas, and also other Asurakumāras, he got into his car, went in a moment to Nandiśvara, and contracted his car at his 2 Ratikara, like Sakra. He went to the Master's feet on the peak of Mt. Meru with the speed of the current of the Jahnavi to the eastern ocean.
In the city Balicañca, the ornament of the north row, Bali knew the birth of the Arhat by clairvoyant knowledge from the trembling of his throne. At his command the general of the infantry, Mahadruma, quickly struck the bell Mahaughasvara three times. When the sound of the bell had died away, as before he made the proclamation which was like a stream of nectar to the ears of the Asuras. By that proclamation the Asuras came from all directions to Bali, like hansas to Manasa at the sound of a cloud.98
374. The south row of the Bhavanavāsins. See below Chap. III. 92 383. I.e., the southeast. 93 388.
See I, n. 47.
91
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org