________________
308
CHAPTER FIVE
Youth (53-57) The Master, two hundred bows tall, marked with all the marks, attained youth, the ornament of beauty. The Lord married princesses from courtesy to his parents. Verily, the command of the parents must be honored even by the Lords of the Three Worlds. The Lord enjoyed himself with his wives to destroy his pleasure-karma. For the Blessed Ones are devoted to the destruction of karma. After five lacs of pūrvas had passed while he was prince, the Lord assumed the burden of the earth imposed by his father who had requested it. The Lord spent fourteen lacs of pūrvas and twenty angas ruling the earth.
Initiation (58–66) Observing that the Master's mind was disgusted with sariisāra, the Lokāntika-gods came from Brahmaloka to the Master : “ You, self-enlightened, are not enlightened by our devotion, but you are reminded. Found a congregation, Master." With these words, they went to heaven.
Then Supārśva Svāmin, eager for the festival of initiation, the wishing-gem of liberality, gave gifts for a year. At the end of the year's giving Supārśva Svāmin's initiation-ceremony was made by the Indras whose thrones had shaken. Then the Lord of the World, going to emancipation, got into the palanquin named Manoharā, charming with varied jewels. Accompanied by gods, asuras, and kings the Blessed One went to the most excellent grove named Sahasrāmravaņa. The Master, the ornament of three worlds, there cast aside his ornaments, etc. and wore on his shoulder the devadūşya placed by Sakra. In the evening of the thirteenth day of the bright half of Jyeștha, (the moon being) in Rādhā, the Lord became a mendicant together with a thousand kings, observing a two days' fast. The Lord's fourth knowledge, mind-reading knowledge, arose ; and then for a moment there was comfort even for hell-inhabitants.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org