Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 189

168 The Lord's life as a chadmastha (93–123) Followed by kings, Kaccha, Mahākaccha and others, who had taken the vow of mendicancy after him, the Lord began to wander over the earth in silence. The Lord did not obtain alms anywhere even on the day for breaking his fast; for the people at that time were thoroughly simple and were not familiar with alms-giving. Some people brought the Master, who had come for alms, horses surpassing in speed Uccaiḥśravas (Indra's horse); others brought choice elephants whose strength was superior to that of the elephants of the quarters; some brought maidens excelling the Apsarases in loveliness; others ornaments that had the brilliance of lightning ; others garments of various colors like twilight clouds; still others garlands and wreaths rivaling wreaths of the coral-tree; some brought a heap of gold resembling Meru's peak; others a pile of jewels like the peak of Mt. Rohaņa ; for they knew the Lord only as a king as before. Even though not obtaining alms, undepressed in mind, always wandering, the Master made the earth pure, like a living tirtha. Healthy, as if his body had been separated from the seven elements, the Blessed One endured trials, hungers, thirst, etc.
In the same way wander the kings self-initiated, 215 following the Master like boats a wind. Then the ascetickings, worn out by hunger, etc., deficient in knowledge of the tattvas, thought in accordance with their own knowledge: "He does not take fruit even when it is sweet, as if it were kimpākas.216 He does not drink water, even fresh, as if it were salty. Indifferent to care of the body, he does not bathe nor anoint himself; he does not put on clothes, ornaments, nor wreaths, as if they were
216 102. The Tirthankaras initiated no one before they became Kevalins, so these kings who took initiation at the same time as Rşabha were self-initiated.
216 104. The kimpāka (Tricosanthes) has a very bad taste. The word also means 'green.'