Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

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intend to do with these objects." They said, "Take the price and give the gośirṣa-sandal and jeweled blanket. Our purpose is to cure a great sadhu with them." Hearing this, the merchant, whose eyes were wide open with astonishment and whose joy was indicated by horripilation, reflected thus in his mind: "On the one hand is their youth intoxicated with wildness, joy, and love; on the other hand their minds, the abode of discernment, suitable for mature age. Such a thing is suitable for people like me whose bodies are decrepit from old age. For them to do it is like untamed animals carrying a load." With these reflections he said: CC Take the gośirṣa-sandal and jeweled blanket. Good luck to you, sirs, and keep the money. I shall take imperishable dharma as the price of these two articles. Like brothers you have made me share dharma, which is a good thing." The best of merchants delivered to them the gosirṣa-sandal and jeweled blanket. Devout, he became a mendicant, and attained emancipation.
With all the remedies, they, foremost of the noble, accompanied by Jivananda, went to the muni. After bowing to him as he was standing in kayotsarga, motionless beneath a banyan tree like its root, they said, "We are going to make an obstacle to your dharma to-day by giving a treatment, Blessed One. Permit it and favor us with merit." Thus informing the muni, they brought a cow recently dead. Certainly doctors do not hesitate. They anointed with the oil every limb of the muni; it disappeared in the body like canal-water in a garden. The muni became unconscious from the oil which had great warming power. An exceedingly strong remedy is suitable for allaying a very strong disease. Confused by the oil, the worms came out of his body, as ants come out of an ant-hill because of water. Jivānanda then covered the muni entirely with the jeweled blanket just as the moon covers the sky with moonlight. Then the worms clung to the jeweled blanket