________________
340
CHAPTER EIGHT
sleep of the delusion of the world, hail ! I hope my eyes, tongue, and arms may be eternal to see you, to praise you, and to worship you. O Master, lord of the tenth congregation, these flowers are laid at your lotus-feet, but the fruit has fallen to me. You have descended to the human world, like a new cloud, giving exceeding joy to souls burned by the heat of pain. Today may living creatures have new prosperity from the sight of you, O Lord, like trees from spring. The days which have been purified by the sight of you, those are days to me, but other days are like a night of the black fortnight. People's bad karma is constantly sewn together, as it were, by the soul ; now let it be forced loose by you quickly, like iron by a loadstone. Whether I am here or in heaven, or somewhere else, may I be your vehicle, carrying you alone in my heart.”
After he had so praised the tenth Arhat Daśasatekşaņa (Śakra) took him, carried him and placed him at Nanda's side, according to custom.
Life before initiation (46–53) Then Drdharatha made a festival with releases from prison, etc.; for the purifying birth of such persons is for the emancipation of the world. The name 'Sitala' was given to him because the King's body, when it was hot, became cool at Nandā's touch, while he was in the womb.
Attended by gods in the form of boys, the Lord of the World increased in size daily, like the waves of the ocean attended by Indras of the Velādhārins. The Supreme Lord gradually traversed childhood and reached youth from childhood, like a traveler reaching a city from a village.
Ninety bows tall, with arms reaching to his knees, the Lord looked like a tree with large creepers hanging at its sides. Though he was indifferent to objects of the senses, requested by his parents, the Lord took a bride, like an
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
