Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

SR No.: 001004
Original Sutra Author: Hemchandracharya
Author: Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 449
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Mythology, & Story
File Size: 9 MB

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SRI MUNISUVRATANATHACARITRA
in the former birth, he was enlightened at once by hearing our teaching."
When the Blessed One had related this story, the horse was praised by the people many times and was set free by the king who asked his forgiveness. From that time the city Bhrgukaccha became a sacred place, named Aśvāvabodha, famous among the people, very pure.
After he had finished his sermon, wishing to benefit the world, the Lord stopped one day in his wandering in Hastinapura. In this city Jitaśatru was king and there was a Jain layman, Kärtika, a merchant, the head of a thousand merchants. There was in the city a Vaisnavite ascetic, wearing reddish garments, who fasted for a month at a time and was much worshipped by the citizens. At each fast-breaking he was invited by the people with great devotion, but not by the merchant Kartika whose supreme treasure was right-belief. Devoted to searching for a weakness in the merchant, like a demon, he was invited one day by King Jitaśatru for his fast-breaking. The ascetic said, "If Kartika waits on me, then I shall eat at your house, O king. The king said "Very well," went to Kärtika's house and asked him, "You must wait on this holy man, good sir." "Master, it is not fitting for us to do this among heretics, but this must be done at your command," he agreed.
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"If I had become a mendicant before, I would not do this," reflecting in distress, the merchant went to the palace. The ascetic showed contempt for Kārtika while he was waiting on him by frequent pointing with his finger. The merchant was penetrated with disgust with the world from this unwilling service and together with a thousand merchants became a mendicant under the Master. Knowing the twelve Añgas, Kārtika kept the vow for twelve years completely, died, and was born as the Indra of Saudharma. The ascetic died also and because of abhiyogya-karma became the elephant Airävaṇa, his vehicle. When he saw Śakra, angry, he began to run away; Śakra