Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 2

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

Page 42

PREVIOUS INCARNATION AS VIMALAVĀHANA 17 was brought from the different tirthas by officials like clouds. The King himself sprinkled the prince on the head while loud-toned auspicious musical instruments were played. Other kings also approached in turn, sprinkled him, and bowed with devotion to him like a newly-risen sun. At the King's command he put on fringed white garments and looked like a mountain with numerous white clouds. Courtesans anointed his body with gośirşa-sandal that resembled spotless streams of moonlight. He put on his body pearl-ornaments which seemed to be made from groups of stars strung together after drawing them from the sky. The King himself set on his head a diadem resplendent with blazing rubies, like his own intense splendor. Over his head the King had carried a spotless white umbrella resembling Glory which had instantly appeared. On both sides he was fanned by courtesans with chauris that resembled clusters of blossoms produced by the creeper of royal wealth. The King himself marked his forehead with a sandal-tilaka that resembled the moon on the peak of the eastern mountain. When the King had thus established the prince on the throne with the greatest joy, he gave good advice that was like a charm for guarding Lakşmi :
“You are the support of the earth. No one is your support. Eliminating negligence, O son, you must support yourself by yourself. From the weakness of the support whatever is placed on it certainly perishes. Therefore beware of weakness in yourself arising from excessive devotion to sense-objects. Know that youth, power, beauty, and henceforth sole lordship also are productive of negligence which destroys the performance of intelligent action. This Lakşmi that has come by family inheritance, seeking trickeries, hard to conciliate, deceives the negligent man, like a Rākşasi. In her there is no inclination to constancy arising from a long residence, but she goes elsewhere
32 201. Worship of the sun immediately after the bath in the morning is customary. See Folk Lore Notes of Gujarat, pp. 6 ff.