Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

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like a lot of snakes, were estranged from Puşkalapāla. For the purpose of subduing them like snakes, the powerful king Vajrajangha, summoned by him, set out. Srimati, whose devotion was unshakeable, also set out with King Vajrajangha, like Paulomi with Biļaujas. When he had gone half-way, he saw ahead a patch of cane that presented the appearance of moonlight on the night before the new moon. When he was informed by travelers, "Here is a snake whose look is poisonous," he went by another road. For the prudent are devoted to the completion of their purpose. He, resembling a lotus, went to Pundarikiņi, and the whole crowd of vassals became submissive to Puşkala. King Puşkalapāla gave numerous gifts to him, like a disciple greetings to a guru.
One day, he took leave of Śrimati's distinguished brother and set out, accompanied by Srimati, like the husband of Śri by Sri. When the grindstone of enemies reached the vicinity of the reed-patch, now the experts in his carriage said, “Here two ascetics attained kevalajñāna. The serpent which was poisonous by its glance became poisonless from the brilliance of the gods coming there. The two munis, named Sāgarasena and Munisena, O King, are there like the sun and moon." The King knew that these munis were his brothers and, exceedingly pleased, dwelt in that very place in the forest, like Vişņu in the ocean." Bowed with the weight of devotion as it were, together with his wife he paid homage to them preaching there, surrounded by an assembly of gods. At the end of the sermon he gave thèm food, drink, garments, paraphernalia, etc., and reflected as follows: “These are blessed, free from passions, from self-interest, and from possessions. I, alas! am not such, though born from the same parents. These alone are
90 The ocean is Vişņu's dwelling-place between the Kalpas. He is represented as reclining on seșa-nāga, or on a lotus.