Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 2

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

Page 317

292
CHAPTER FOUR
his lotus-color, his father named him Padmaprabha. Being cherished by nurses from heaven, playing with gods in the form of boys, the Master grew up gradually, and attained the second period of life.
Two hundred and fifty bows tall, broad-chested, the Lord looked like a pleasure-mountain made of rubies of Sri. Though wishing to abandon samsāra, the Master married in order to gratify the people and from consideration for his father and mother. When seven and a half lacs of pūrvas since his birth had passed, the Master took the 'burden of the kingdom at his father's importunity. The Lord of the World spent twenty-one and a half lacs of pūrvas and sixteen pūrvāngas, protecting the kingdom.
Initiation (57-62) The Master, who wished to reach the opposite bank of existence, was urged to take initiation by the Lokāntikagods, like a traveler urged to a journey by good omens. He gave gifts for a year and the Jşmbhakas, sent by Kubera, supplied treasure to the Lord as he gave it away. The Lord, whose (departure-)ceremony was made by Indras and kings, got into a palanquin (named) Nirvịttikarā and went to the grove Sahasrāmravaņa. In the afternoon of the thirteenth of the black half of Kārtika, (the moon being) in Citră, observing a two days' fast, the Lord together with a thousand kings took the vows of mendicancy.
On the next day the Master broke his fast with ricepudding in the house of King Somadeva in the city Brahmasthala. The gods made there the five divine things ; and the King made a jeweled platform where the Lord had stood.
Omniscience (63-65) The Supreme Lord wandered for six months as an ascetic and went again to Sahasrāmravana, the sole witness of his initiation. As the Lord stood in pratimā at the foot of a banyan tree, observing a two days' fast, the