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SAMBHAVAJINACARITRA
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thrown into a fire. A thousand kings abandoned their kingdoms like straw, and took initiation themselves with the Lord of Three Worlds.
Sakra made obeisance to the Lord with folded hands, and began a hymn of praise in a voice ardent with devotion :
Stuti (293-300) “Hail, O Lord, possessor of four kinds of knowledge, demonstrator of the dharma of the four vows, 889 giving happiness to the throngs of creatures of the four conditions of existence. Those places in Bharatakşetra are blessed, O Lord of Three Worlds, in which you shall wander as a living tīrtha, O Lord of the Tirtha. You live in this worldly existence, but you are not tainted by worldly existence. Verily, a lotus, though originating in mud, does not become muddy. This great vow of yours, powerful as the blade of a sword for cutting the snares of karma, is victorious, O Lord of the World. Though free from affection, you are compassionate; though free from possessions, very rich in magic powers ; though possessing Splendor (heat), always gentle (cool); though courageous, afraid of existence. He with whom you, wandering, break fast, the means of salvation for all, even though a mortal, is to be worshipped intensely by gods. O Master, to see you in this way is very beneficial to me who am not free from desire, like a medicinal herb to a sick man. O Lord of Three Worlds, I ask, “May my mind be on you, as if sewn together, as if inlaid, as if joined together, constantly.'"
When he had recited this hymn of praise to the Lord, Śakra and the other Indras, Acyuta, etc., went to their respective abodes, recalling the nearness of the Lord.
His fast-breaking (302–310) On the next day in the same city the Lord went to the house of King Surendradatta with the intention of
880 293. See n. 358. See Uttar. 23. 12; Sūtra. 2. 7. 40.
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