Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 190

169
burdens. He is covered with dust of the road raised by the wind, like a mountain; he endures on his head excessive heat burning the forehead. Deprived of a couch, etc., he does not become fatigued; like a mountainelephant he is not exhausted by heat and cold. Verily, he does not consider hunger nor know thirst. Like a warrior who has an enemy, he does not resort to sleep. Now he does not favor us with a glance—us who became his followers--as if we were criminals, to say nothing of talking to us. We do not know what the Lord thinks in his mind, though he has turned away from possessions, children, wife, etc."
Then the ascetics said to Kaccha and Mahākaccha, (former) attendants near the Lord, who had become foremost in their own group: “Why is the Master here victorious over hunger, and we like worms in regard to food ? Why does he have thirst subdued, when we are like frogs for water ? Why is he victorious over heat, and we like bugs for shade? Why is he unconquered by cold and we like monkeys in regard to cold? Why does he do without sleep when we are boa-constrictors for sleep? Why does he never sit, and we are lame from sitting ? We have undertaken to follow the Lord in the vow, like crows undertaking to follow Garuda in crossing the ocean. Shall we take our own kingdoms for a livelihood ? But these have been taken by Bharata. Where can we go? Or, shall we go to Bharata himself for a livelihood ? We are afraid of him, if we go after leaving the Master. Therefore, sirs, tell us who are confused about our course of action, what we are to do. Formerly always near the Lord, you know his intention." They replied, “If one can reach the bottom of the Svayambhūramaņa Ocean, then one can fathom the Lord's intention. Formerly, we always did what the Master commanded; now he has become silent and commands nothing at all. We know no more than you. The fate of all is the same. Say, what are we to do ?” After