Jain Journal 1974 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 30

JULY, 1974
some monk or advanced soul, then, the thunder-bolt hurled by me will cause great trouble to such a Jina or to such a monk or such an advanced soul.
So he saw through his avadhi knowledge, and having seen in this way, he observed my neighbourhood and at once burst out :
Alas! What have I done ? I am undone !
So saying, with excellent, ...till divine speed, he rushed out behind the thunder-bolt, and passing through the heart of innumerable istes and seas in the sub-human world, ...till arrived beneath the excellent Asoka tree to my proximity; and as the thunder-bolt was at a distance of four fingers from me, he pounced upon it. And believe it, Gautama, he pounced upon it with such a terrible force that the air in his fist blew away my hairs. Then Sakra, the Indra of the gods, their king, withdrew the thunder-bolt, moved round me thrice, and paid me homage and obeisance ; and having paid me homage and obeisance, he submitted as follows:
Bhante Having taken shelter with thee, Camara, the Indra of the Asuras, their king, had come to destroy my grandeur. So by being angry with him, I hurled my thunder-bolt to kill him. But after I had done so, I thought that surely Camara, the Indra of the Asuras, their king, ...till saw through my avadhi knowledge, and beheld thee, and then burst forth these words through my lips : “Alas! What have I done ?. I am undone ! And thereon I rushed forth with excellent (divine speed) ...till I arrived unto thee, the beloved of the gods, and (goodluck prevailing.) could withhold my thunder-bolt at a distance of four fingers from thee. So I have come here, I have moved myself to this place, I have arrived here, I have reached here, to withhold my thunder-bolt. Bhante ! For my fault, I beg to be forgiven by thee: Oh beloved of the gods ! Forgive me. Oh beloved of the gods ! It behoves thy gracious goodness to pardon me. You are noble enough to do so. I assure you, I will never repeat such a conduct.
So saying, he paid me homage and obeisance ; and having paid me homage and obeisance, he moved to the north-east, and then thumped on the ground thrice with his left leg, and said the following words to Camara, the Indra of the Asuras, their king :
Oh Camara, the Indra of the Asuras, their king ! Saved is your life to-day by the grace of Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira. Now, entertain no fear from me.
So saying, he went away in the direction from which he had emerged.