Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 200

179
touched by their crowns; who, from compassion for the people made plain crafts for the sake of livelihood, as the sun makes plain objects; who divided this earth like the remains of his sacrifice and gave it to Bharata, etc., and also to you, when he intended to take initiation; who himself undertook penance, summer heat for drying up the mud of the eight karmas, by shunning all censurable activity ; from the time of his vow the Lord has wandered, indifferent to worldly interests, free from selfinterest, without food, purifying the earth with his feet. He does not shrink from the heat of the sun, he does not delight in the shade. Like a mountain, the Master is the same to both. He does not loose color from cold; he does not become red from heat; as if having an adamant body, the Master remains any place. His gaze directed ahead for the space of six feet, not crushing even a worm, he wanders on foot, the lion to the elephant of sarnsāra. The divinity of the three worlds, to be pointed out in visible form, by good fortune, your paternal greatgrandfather comes here. That low murmur now is from all the citizens who are running after the Master, like cows after the cow-herd.”
The fast-breaking of the Lord (277–334) When he saw the Master coming, the Heir-apparent instantly ran on foot, outstripping even the footmen. Because the Prince ran without his umbrella and shoes, the assembly, also without umbrella and shoes, ran after him like his shadow. Bounding along in haste, his ear-rings dangling, the Heir-apparent looked as if he were again indulging in childish play before the Master. Śreyānsa threw himself at the feet of the Lord, who was in the court of the house, and wiped his lotus-feet with his hair resembling a chauri. After he had risen and circumambulated the Lord of the World three times, he bowed, washing his feet with tears of joy, as it were. Rising and standing before the Master, he looked at the lotus-face with joy, like the