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Chapter I
देवागम-नभोयान-चामरादि विभूतयः। मायाविष्वपि दृश्यन्ते नातस्त्वमसि नो महान् ॥1॥ devāgama-nabhoyāna-chămarādi-vibhūtayaḥ, māyāvişvapi drśyante nātas-tvamasi no mahān.
Coming down of heavenly beings, movements in sky, waving of whisks and other symbols of majesty (of a Tīrtharkara) are seen even in magicians. You are not our worshipful lord because of these things.
COMMENTARY According to the Jaina view heavenly beings come down on earth on special occasions in the life of a Tirthankara. These occasions are: conception, birth, adoption of ascetic vows, attaiment of perfect knowledge and liberation. A Tirthankara has eight symbols of majesty (prātihāryas), viz.,2 Asoka tree, throne, the triple canopy, halo of glory, divine discourse, shower of flowers, waving of sixtyfour flywhisks and heavenly music. The Tīrtharkaras, it is said, move in the sky, on golden lotuses.3 It is mentioned in this verse that these should not be accepted as essentials of Āpta, for magicians might show these to the people and deceive them.
Vasunandi in his Vrtti writes : “Achārya Samantabhadra might have seen the omniscient and spoken thus : 'O Lord! praise means the recital of greatness, but your greatness being not cognizable by senses, is beyond my perception. So, how can I praise 1. “स्वर्गावतरण-जन्मनिष्क्रमणकेवलज्ञानोत्पत्तिमुक्तिगमनस्थानेषु आगमनं आगमः अवतारः।”
Vịtti by Vasunandi 2. “wfa-TECH 37STAGSPARETHALIA fueganti" Vasunandi. 3. “ 7 24441-4 tp ri tanqi" Vasunandi.
