Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 377

356
Bhadraśāla, etc; fifty yojanas at the base, ten at the peak (in circumference), and eight high, the mountain was ascended by the Lord.
The Blessed One, benefiting all, sat down in the samavasaraṇa made immediately by the gods and delivered a sermon. The mountain repeated, as it were, by echoes arising from the caves the Lord's sermon delivered in a deep voice. The Lord of the Three Worlds ceased speaking when three hours had passed, like a cloud in the rainy season ceasing rain. Then the God of gods rose from that place, and seated himself on the dais made by the gods inside the middle wall. Then the chief gaṇadhara, Śri Pundarika, sat down on the Lord's footstool, like a crown prince on that of the sovereign. The best of ganabhṛts delivered a sermon on dharma, as easily as the Blessed One, to the assembly seated in the same way. He completed his sermon in the second period of the day, like the wind the sprinkling of the nectar of frost at dawn. The Lord remained there for some time, as on Aṣṭāpada, delivering sermons on dharma for the benefit of the people.
Death of Pundarika with a crore of sadhus (425-449)
One day, wishing to go elsewhere, the Teacher of the World instructed Pundarika, the lotus of a ganabhṛt: "O great muni, we shall set forth to wander elsewhere. You remain here on the mountain, surrounded by crores of munis. Here your omniscience and that of the followers will appear soon from the power of the place. Your mokşa and theirs will take place soon when you are engaged in saileśidhyāna here on the mountain." Saying "Very well," the gaṇabhṛt stayed there with crores of sādhus. Leaving him, like the ocean leaving a heap of jewels in the caves in its banks when it overflows, the Lord went elsewhere with his followers.
Pundarika remained there on the mountain with the munis, like the moon with constellations on the slope