________________
216
CHAPTER SIX
a half crores of gold to the garden-overseers who announced the Master's arrival. Attended by vassals, etc., Sagara went with Bhagiratha to the samavasaraña in great haste. He entered it by the north door, thinking he had really entered the place of beatitude, as it were, from joy. The Cakrin circumambulated the Dharmacakrin three times, bowed before him, and began a hymn of praise as follows:
Stuti (623–630) “Violate our mutual support to the effect your favor is because of my favor, but this (favor of mine) is because of your favor.' Favor me, Blessed One. A thousand eyes are not able to see the wealth of beauty; a thousand tongues are not able to tell your merits, O Master. You destroy doubts even of the Anuttara-gods, O Lord. After that, does any virtue really deserve to be praised ? How can unbelievers believe this contradictory thing? Power over joy and bliss, and disgust with existence are equal in you. Indifference and the highest benefit to all creatureshow can this be performed, difficult to perform though being performed, O Lord? Of you and no one else, o Blessed One, there are two opposing things—complete freedom from possessions and the highest emperorship. Who is able to describe the pure right conduct of him on whose kalyāṇas even the hell-inhabitants rejoice? Wonderful tranquillity, wonderful beauty, wonderful compassion for all creatures,-homage to you, the lord of the treasure of all wonders, O Blessed One."
After praising the Lord of the World and sitting down in the proper place, he listened to a sermon that was like a stream of nectar. At the end of the sermon Sagara bowed again to the Lord with hands folded submissively and said in a choking voice :
“Even if to you, Lord of the Tirtha, no one is a relation and no one an enemy, still I ask you from ignorance, Lord. You lead everyone else across the ocean of existence hard to cross. Why are you indifferent to me sinking in
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
