Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 255

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of hair on the head, 295 calamities arising from animals, men, and gods, do not befall; by which sorrow, as well as darkness, completely disappears; by which diseases, as well as blows from weapons, do not prevail; brilliant like the sun, attended by one thousand Yaksas, four fingers (in dimension). 296 The destroyer of enemies set it on the right protuberance of the elephant like a golden cover on a full pitcher. Then the man-lion entered the cave-door like a lion following the cakra, accompanied by the fourpart army in the cakra-formation.
The King took the cowrie-jewel which weighed eight suvarnas, 297 was six-sided, twelve-edged, smoothsurfaced, provided with suitable bulk, weight, and height, always attended by one thousand Yaksas, eight-cornered, destroyer of darkness for twelve yojanas, shaped like an anvil, with the brilliance of the sun and moon, four fingers (in each dimension).298 He went in a
300. The tuft of hair, the coți, which Hindus wear on the head must always be tied, except in cases of mourning. Loose hair is considered inauspicious.
295
296 302. The shape of the mani-jewel is not at all clear to me. Usually when one dimension is given, it is the diameter of a circle or the side of a square. But the mani is triangular, according to Jamb. 54, p. 225b and Pravac. 1213-17, p. 350b. The Jamb. says it is 4 angulas in length and 2 in 'prthula,' that it is tryasra and also şaḍasra, which might be an equilateral triangle, 4 angulas long and 2 thick. But it is compared in shape with a mrdanga, Perhaps it was something like two pyramids put together. The Pravac. calls it tryasra and sadansa. Placed on the handle of the umbrella-jewel it gave light for 12 yojanas. Fastened on the head or wrist it keeps off all calamities and disease, gives protection in battle, and preserves youth. Sth. 558, p. 399, also gives 4 angulas dimension and half as broad, but no details as to shape.
297 305. A suvarna is about 175 grains troy (MW). Jamb. 54, p. 226a, gives a table starting with madhuratṛnaphala' and ending with 'suvarna.' According to it, one suvarna 10,240 madhuratṛṇaphalas. In this same table, 80 guñjas I suvarna, which would be about 175 g. t.
298 307. The kakini was a cube. It is described also in Jamb.