Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 172

151
the punishment of the wicked and protection of the good. The King, Vṛṣabha-marked, established able police for guarding against theft, etc., like Sutrāman Lokapālas. For the government he, the elephant of kings, collected elephants, the superior branch of the army like the best member of the body. He, Vrṣabha-bannered, maintained fine horses holding their necks very high, as if in rivalry with the horses of the sun. The son of Nabhi himself built chariots made of close-fitted wood like aerial cars on earth. Then the son of Nabhi made a collection of foot-soldiers of well-tried courage, just as in a cakravartin-incarnation. The son of Nabhi established in it army-commanders like very strong pillars of the palace of new sovereignty. The Lord of the World collected oxen, camels, buffaloes, mules, skilled in their
use.
The wishing-trees having become extinct, like families without children, at that time the people ate bulbs, roots, fruits, etc. They ate herbs also, rice, wheat, chickpeas, beans, etc., grown up of their own accord like grass, uncooked. Being told by them, "This food does not digest," the Lord said, "Crush and skin them with your hands, then eat." They obey the advice of the Lord of the World, but the food does not digest from the hardness of the herbs. Again told by them, the Master said, "Crush with your hands, wet with water, put in a leaf-cup and eat." They did just so. In that case too the Lord of the World, told again by them about the pain from undigested food, instructed them again: "Follow the former procedure, put the herbs in your hands and put them in the heat under the arms, then eat them with pleasure." While the people were weak from food undigested in that case also, a fire started from the rubbing together of branches in a group of trees. It burned grass, wood, etc. From the mistaken idea that it was a shining jewel, the people ran and began to take it with outstretched hands. Burned by the