Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

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proceed to the business of curing it. For a treatment of an unknown disease is not right.” She then told Panditā an exact account of her former life, like a man making confession to a good guru. Having represented Srimati's story on canvas by pictures, Paņditā, learned in strategy, went quickly to display it outside. It was the birthday of the Cakrin Vajrasena and for this occasion many kings came there. After she had painted the canvas clearly, Pandită spread it out on the highway, and stood like the strong desire of Srimati. Some who knew the scriptures praised the painted heaven, Nandiśvara, etc., in it which agreed with the description in the scriptures. Other laymen, nodding their heads, described the images of the holy Arhats one by one. Looking repeatedly with side-long glances, some, who had experience in the arts, praised constantly the purity of line. Others described the colors, black, white, yellow, blue, red, etc., that made the canvas look like a twilight-cloud.
Just then King Durdarśana's son, who was fittingly named Durdānta, came there. He looked at the canvas with circumspection for a moment, fell on the ground in a pretended faint, and got up like one who has regained consciousness. Questioned by the people as to the reason for his fainting, after he had got up, he told a story giving a false account. “Some one has painted on the canvas the incidents of my former birth, and at the sight of it here the recollection of the birth took place. I am the god Lalitānga, and Svayamprabhā was my goddess. All this agrees exactly with what is painted here on the canvas.” Then Pandita asked him, “If that is so, sir, then tell what this composition on the canvas is. Explain it with your finger.” He said, “ This is Mt. Meru. This is the city Puņdarikini.” Again asked about the name of the muni, he said he had forgotten the name. Again asked, “Who is this king, surrounded by ministers ? Who is this woman ascetic ?" he replied, “I do not