Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 201

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cakora 221 seeing the full-moon. Thinking, “Where have I seen such a costume?” he achieved recollection of his former births--the seed of the tree of discernment. He knew as follows:
"In East Videha the Blessed One was a cakravartin, Vajranābha, 222 and I was his charioteer. In that same birth, I saw the Lord's father, named Vajrasena, wearing such a Tirthankara-costume. Vajranābha adopted mendicancy at the feet of the Master Vajrasena, and I also, following him. I myself heard the Arhat Vajrasena say, 'Vajranābha will be the first Tirthakrt.' I wandered with him through births as Svayamprabhā, etc. Now the Master, my paternal great-grandfather, is present. By good fortune, I have seen the Lord of all the worlds, as if emancipation had come in person to favor me.” Just then, some one joyfully brought jars filled with fresh sugar-cane juice to the Prince as a present. Then, knowing the rules for giving alms free from faults, he said to the Lord, “Take this juice which is suitable.” The Lord put together his hands and held out a dish made from his hands; Śreyānsa, lifting up the pitchers of cane-juice in succession, emptied them. The juice, though much, was contained in the Blessed One's hand-dish; but his joy at that time was not contained in Sreyānsa's heart. Then the juice in the Master's hand congealed into a lofty pillar. Certainly the Lords have powers unthought of.
Then the Blessed One broke his fast with that juice; but the eyes of gods, asuras, and men (were fed) by the nectar of the sight of him. In the sky sounded drums, intoxicating by their echoes, like bards proclaiming Śreyānsa's happiness. In Śreyānsa's house there was a rain of jewels from the gods together with a rain of tears of joy from the people's eyes. The gods sent a shower of five-colored flowers from the sky, as if to make a pājā
221 282. A kind of partridge, said to live on moon-beams. 222 284. This refers to the eleventh incarnation, in Chap. I.