Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 67

52
NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
it were by double mortise, collar, and pin, with a complexion as light as the filaments of the lotus or the streak of a piece of gold on the touchstone, a man of severe austerity, of brilliant austerity, of ardent austerity, of awful austerity, of grand austerity, a mighty one, a man of sublime merits, an awful ascetic, practising a life of sublime continence, neglectful of all care for the body, and charged with a store of the far-reaching fiery psychic force, was devoting himself to the sanctification of self by the uninterrupted ascetic practice of never eating any but the sixth meal, and generally by a course of self-restraint and penance.
77. Then that blessed Goyama, when the turn for the indulgence of his sixth meal came round, engaged in private study during the first three hours' period of the afternoon; during the second period he devoted himself to meditation, during the third period, without hurry, haste or bustle, he examined his mouth-protector, and afterwards, his vessels, clothes, etc.; next he wiped his vessels, clothes, etc., and then taking them up, he went to where the Samana, the blessed Mahāvīra, was, and praised and worshipped him; and having done so, he spake to him thus : "I desire, Reverend Sir, with your permission, as the turn for the indulgence of my sixth meal has arrived, to go round the city of Vāniyagāma, to the upper, lower, and middle classes, on a begging tour of house-to-house collection. May it so please you, O beloved of the devas; do not deny me."
78. Then the blessed Goyama, having obtained permission from the Samana, the blessed Mahāvīra, went away from the presence of the Samaņa, the blessed Mahāvīra, and from the Düïpalāsa cheïya; and having done so, he proceeded, without hurry, haste or bustle, carefully guarding his steps by steadily examining with his eyes the ground before him to the distance of four cubits, to where the city of Vāniyagāma was. Having done so, he went round the city of Vānīyagāma, to the upper, lower, and middle classes, on his begging tour of house-to-house collection.
79. Then that blessed Goyama, going on his round of begging alms (exactly as described in the Paņņatti and so forth, as before, & 78, down to) in the city of Vaniyagāma, duly collected food and drink just as he received it; and having done so, he went out of the city of Vāniyagāma;