Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 390

369
filled with jeweled pillars like a garden with many trees; beautiful with pennants that were like waves of the sky-Gangā; having teeth, as it were, in the form of the tall golden flag-staffs; imitating the sound of a circle of Khecara-women's tongues by the sounds-constantly pouring forth of the small bells on the banners; shining on top with a ruby finial with great brilliance, like a finger-ring with a ruby; in some places it seemed to have shoots, in other places a coat of mail, in others hair erect from joy, and in others to be anointed by the sun's rays; decorated with marks of gośirşasandal paste; apparently made of one stone because the stones were joined so closely; its ridge occupied by jeweled puppets beautiful with a variety of gestures, like the peak of Meru by Apsarases; on both sides of the doors marked with two pitchers anointed with sandalpaste like lotuses growing on dry ground; charming with fragrant wreaths suspended horizontally; with heaps of five-colored flowers made on the ground; inundated day and night by constant smoke from incense of camphor, aloe, and musk, like Mt. Kalinda by Kālindi; crowded with throngs of Apsarases, like Pālaka (Sakra's car) descended from heaven; surrounded by Vidyādharis, like a piece of Vaitāļhya's terrace; adorned in front, at the sides and at the back with beautiful caitya-trees and jeweled platforms like ornaments; like a jeweled head-ornament on the summit of Aștāpada; very purifying as if in rivalry with the shrines of Nandiśvara, etc., the shrine was made properly by the carpenter-jewel, knowing the arts, simultaneously with the command of Bharata.
At the same place the Lord of Bharata had statues of his ninety-nine brothers made of divine precious stones. There also the King had made a statue of himself listening attentively. For he was insatiable in devotion. The Lord of Bharata had the Blessed One's stūpa and those of his ninety-nine brothers made outside the shrine. With the idea, “Men must not cause damage here 24