Lord Mahavira Vol 01

Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

Page 83

Lord Mahâvîra
conduct-all essentials. Following the course indicated by the Jinas, these great Sramana merchants are moving very fast in their boat which is restraint with their faces turned towards the great port which is perfection. These monks were the masters of right texts. Their talk was pleasant as their questions were intelligent and they cherished a decent hope. While in a village, they spent one night there, and five nights when in a town, conquerors of senses, wholly free from fear, destroying the very possibility of the genesis of fear, totally detached to all forms of life, to non-life (matter), life-non-life, restrained, desisted, tie-free, with little possession, without hankering, covetous of liberation, calm, they led a spiritual life.
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In that period, at that time, many Asurakumara gods came down to Bhagavan Mahâvîra. They had a black complexion like the colour of mahanila stone and the glaze of nilamani stone, indigo, the horn of a buffalo and the alasi flower. Their eyes were open like a blossomed lotus, with polished brows, somewhat white, red and copper-like. Their noses were sharp like that of Garuda, straight and high. Their lips were red like a refined coral or the bimba fruit.
The rows of their teeth were faultless, like a portion of the moon, white like a clean conch, cow's milk, foam or a lotus stalk. The palms of their hands and the sole of their feet, the upper portion of their mouth and tongue were red like burnt gold. Their hairs were as black as the collyrium, or a dark cloud, or like the rucaka stone, delightful and polished. Their left ears had a ring. Their body had a coat of sandal paste.
They nicely wore robes bright like the silidhra flower, fine and free from dirt.
They had crossed through their childhood days but had not attained full youth. They were in the prime of their youth. Their arms were decorated with talabhangaka, trutika and other beautiful ornaments. All the fingers had rings on.
Their crowns bore the mark of hood-stone (cûdâmani). They had grace, great fortune, great glow, great valour, great friendship and great power. Their chests were decorated with necklaces. Their arms became stiff like pillars because of the weight of ornaments. They wore bracelets and earrings. They painted their cheeks with musk. Their robes and ornaments were