Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 191

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taking counsel together, all apportioned the woods on the bank of the Gangā, and ate bulbs, roots, fruit, etc., as they liked. From that time there were here on earth ascetics, living in the forest, wearing matted hair, eating bulbs, fruit, etc.
Founding of Vidyadhara cities (124–233) Now, the sons of Kaccha and Mahākaccha, Nami and Vinami by name, men of good training, had gone previously to distant foreign countries at the Master's command. Returning by the road through this forest, they saw their fathers, and reflected : “Why have our fathers come to such a state, as if they were without a lord, when Vrşabhanātha is their lord ? Then they had garments of Chinese silk; now garments of bark suitable for Kirātas. Then there was ointment on their bodies; now dust suitable for animals. Then their hair was coiled with wreaths; now it is matted like a fig-tree. Then they rode on elephants; now they go on foot like foot-men.” Thus reflecting, they bowed and questioned their fathers. Kaccha and Mahākaccha said: “Abandoning the kingdom, the Lord of the World, blessed Rşabha-bannered, divided the earth, gave it to Bharata and others, and took the vow. Then under the influence of excitement the vow was undertaken by all of us along with the Master, like the eating of sugar-cane by an elephant. Oppressed by sufferings, hunger, thirst, cold, heat, etc., we gave up the vow, just as a yoke is put down by disobedient bullocks. Even if we are not able to follow the Master's course, nevertheless we have given up being house-holders, and live in this ascetics’-grove."
Saying, “We too shall ask the Master for a share of the earth," Nami and Vinami approached the Master. Thinking, “He is free from worldly attachment," not knowing that the Lord was engaged in pratima, bowing, both spoke as follows: “While we were in a distant foreign country, on duty as servants of the Lord, you