________________
101
had an abundant supply of flowers brought, and himself made an offering to the excellent Jina. After he had made his offering, he composed this hymn of praise:
'To-day my eye is blessed, to-day my head is blessed, To-day my hand is blessed, to-day my foot is blessed, Since thou hast been propitiated, adored, worshipped and praised.'
Speaking thus, he bent before the chief of prophets again and again. Thereupon, at this very conjuncture, there arrived a hermit with heavy matted hair hanging down, with body broken with old age. When the prince saw this hermit, such as has been described, and saw that that very lady-love of his was carrying for him a large basket, his eyes were dilated with curiosity. The girl, too, seeing the prince, thought: 'Is this Indra, or the moon, or the sungod? or is he the god of love himself, present in visible form?' Then the prince, having worshipped the mighty Jina, bowed before that hermit when he arrived. Then the hermit said to the prince: 'My son, what family is blessed by thee? What succession of letters is fortunate enough to form thy name? To what cause is the great happiness of thy arrival due?' The prince answered all his questions; in the meanwhile he saw the damsel, who was concealed by the hermit's weight of matted hair. Then the prince said to the hermit: Who caused this temple of the Jina to be built in this wood? Who are you? Who is this maiden? Tell me all.' Then the hermit said: 'My son, my story is long; first let us worship the god; so wait a moment.' Having said this, the hermit went in and worshipped the god; while the maiden looked at the prince, and the prince looked at the maiden. Then the hermit, having worshipped the god with lotuses, came out into the porch of the temple, and said to Prince Kanakaratha: Come to this hut of mine which is near, in order that I may show you respect.' Then the prince went into the hut in order to please him. The hermit said: 'Hear, my son, the story of the chaitya, of myself, and of this maiden:
(
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
