________________
EMANCIPATION OF AJITA SVĀMIN AND SAGARA
197
Not even
limit of your speech and life has been reached. an atom of water is seen today, to say nothing of the ocean agitated for the destruction of the world which you predicted. Every one, alas! is hostile to you, because of your prediction of universal destruction; and will seek your death, your assertion being false. What advantage would it be to me to kill you, an insignificant man? Go now. You said that when crazed.' The king instructed the guards audibly, 'Free the miserable man. Let him go away comfortably, like a sheep.'
The Brahman replied, his lips covered with a smile: Compassion toward all living things is suitable for the noble. However, today I am not an object of compassion, O king, so long as my assertion made at that time is not false. If my assertion is false, you can kill me. If you free me then when I deserve death, O king, you would be called 'compassionate.' Even if released, I will not go away, but will remain here like a prisoner. Know that my assertion will be fulfilled in a very short time. Wait only a moment in this same place and see instantly high waves of the ocean raised up like the vanguard of Yama's soldiers. Make your own astrologers and councilors eyewitnesses for a moment. After a moment we shall not exist, not I, nor you, nor they.' After saying this, the astrologer remained silent.
An indistinct loud noise was heard like the rumbling of death. When they heard that great unexpected noise, creating fear, all stood with ears pricked up like forest-deer. His head turned up a little, rising slightly from his seat, smiling a little, the Brahman spoke again:
'Hear the noise, O king, filling heaven and earth, like the sound of your drum, indicating the setting out of the ocean. See it, by taking just a little of whose water rain-clouds, Puşkaravarta, etc., inundate the whole earth, which has set out now, unrestrained, flooding the earth, after crossing the boundary. The ocean, hard to restrain, indeed, possesses the caves, disturbs the trees, levels the
"
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
