Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

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peak of Meru. Worshipping the Jinas and devoted to attendance on their guru, they, noble-minded, wore away time like karma. One day, the six felt disgust with the world and, pious, in the presence of their guru took initiation-the fruit of the tree of human birth. They wandered from city to city, from village to village, and from forest to forest, staying a limited time, like planets going from one sign of the zodiac to another. By penances of two, three, four, etc., days' fast," they made the jewel of goodconduct more shining, though already shining, as if by a whetstone. Not troubling the giver, for the sake of sustaining life they took alms to break fast, following the custom of the bees."" Supported by firmness, they endured trials, hunger, thirst, heat, etc., as good soldiers endure blows. With forgiveness, etc.,' as weapons they completely overcame the four passions like four branches of the army of King Delusion. After they had first performed samlekhana" physically and mentally, they began to fast, which is a thunderbolt for destroying the mountain of karma. Engaged in concentrated meditation, recalling the formula of homage to the five Supreme Ones, they abandoned the body. The noble have no delusion.
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Tenth incarnation as a Sāmānika (789–90)
The six became Sakrasāmānikas in the twelfth heaven named Acyuta. For such penance does not
98 783. This is not a strictly accurate translation of the türya (caturtha), şaştha, aṣṭama of the text. Neither is the more usual one and a half, two and a half, three and a half days, respectively. In actual practice the caturtha affects three days. Only one meal is eaten on the day preceding the fast day proper, complete fast is observed for one day, and on the third day one meal is eaten. same way the ṣastha affects four days, the aṣṭama five, etc.
In the
94 784. They took alms where they would not be missed, nor cause any trouble to the giver, as bees take honey.
95 786. This refers to the yatidharma. See note 38. See below, 6. 434 ff.
96 787.