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CHAPTER V
LIFE AND DEATH OF THE SONS OF SAGARA
Origin of hostility between Purnamegha and Sulocana (1-19)
Then the Blessed One, the Jineśvara Ajita, attended by gods and asuras, came and stopped 821 in a garden of the city Saketa. The Lord delivered a sermon to the Indras and other gods, and to Sagara and other kings, seated in their proper places.
At that time on Mt. Vaitäḍhya Sahasraḍrs, recalling with anger his father's murder, slew Purṇamegha, like a garuda a snake. Pūrṇamegha's son, Ghanavahana, escaped from him and came to the samavasaraṇa. After he had circumambulated the Blessed One three times and had bowed to him, he sat down at his feet like a traveler at the foot of a tree. Saying, "I'll drag him up from Pātāla, or pull him down from heaven, or tear him away from the strongest protection, and kill him," Sahasrākṣa came right after him, his weapon raised, into the samavasaraṇa and saw Ghanavāhana. By the power of the Supreme Lord his anger was appeased and, after bowing to him and circumambulating him, he sat down in the proper place, his weapon abandoned.
The Cakrabhṛt Sagara asked the Supreme Lord, "What was the cause of the enmity between Pūrṇamegha and Sunetra, O Master?" The Blessed One related as follows:
821 I. I am inclined to think that the verb 'samavasṛ , really means that the whole business of the samavasarana took place. One was erected, as is evident from the context immediately following. I think the translation came and had a samavasarana erected' would be justified when 'samavasṛ' is used in this context.
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