Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

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to the water. The nine treasures 106 performed service to him, drawn by strong merit like bees by perfume. He conquered the entire province Puşkalāvati,106 and all the kings consecrated him as cakravartin. His inclination toward dharma, even as he was enjoying pleasures, increased very much, as if in rivalry with increasing age. Gradually from the increasing wealth of disgust with existence, his inclination toward dharma became very strong like a creeper from water in a basin at its root.
One day the Lord of Jinas, Vajrasena, came there in his wandering, producing the greatest joy like mokşa embodied. Then the Master delivered a sermon on dharma, which was a fountain of nectar for the ears, under the caitya-tree in the samavasarana.106 Joyfully, like a king-goose Vajranābha with his brothers approached the lotus-feet of the Lord Jina, kinsman of the whole world. After he had circumambulated three times the Lord of the World and bowed to him, he sat down behind Sakra like a younger brother. Chief of the laymen, he listened to the sermon which resembled rain at the time of Svāti,207 producing the pearl of enlightenment in the pearloysters of the minds of the souls capable of emancipation.
Listening eagerly to the Blessed One's speech like a deer to a song, joyfully the King thought:“The boundless ocean of existence is hard to cross, like the sea. Fortunately, my Father, Lord of the World, is a guide across even it. Delusion makes men completely blind, just as darkness does. The Blessed One destroys delusion completely, as the sun destroys darkness. The heap of karma
104 812. The 14 jewels and 9 treasures are discussed in Chap. IV.
105 813. One province of Videha is equal to all of Bharata and the conquest of one is sufficient to make a cakravartin.
100 817. The preaching-hall erected by the gods for the Tirthankaras. A detailed description occurs in Chap. III.
107 820. Each constellation is supposed to have a specific influence on the rain fall. If rain falls at the pearl-beds near Ceylon at the time of Svāti, it turns into pearls in 9 days, according to tradition.