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VĀSUPUJYACARITRA
71
at their father's advice and then attained emancipation. Do you do this. Follow your predecessors by accomplishing marriage, sovereignty, initiation, and nirvāṇa."
Prince Vāsupujya said respectfully: "Father, I know the lives of all my predecessors. But, in this path of samsåra the same karma of two persons is never found, neither in their own family nor in another. They had karma which had pleasure as its fruit surviving. Therefore they, possessing the three kinds of knowledge, destroyed it by pleasure. To me no karma at all with pleasure as its fruit remains. So please do not command this thing which is an obstacle to emancipation. Malli, Nemi, Pārsva, three future Jinas, will become mendicants for the sake of emancipation without marrying or ruling. Sri Vira, the last Arhat, will become a mendicant and attain emancipation after marrying because of a little pleasure-karma, but without ruling. Considering, "There is no one path for the Arhats because of the difference in their karma,' give consent. Do not be cowardly from affection."
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Initiation (106–129) After he had so enlightened his parents, when eighteen lacs of years had elapsed since his birth, the Lord became eager for his initiation, The Laukāntika-gods went there instantly from Brahmaloka, when they knew by the shaking of their thrones that it was time for the Master's initiation. They circumambulated the Teacher of the World three times, bowed to him, and announced, “O Master, found a congregation." After saying this, they returned to their own heaven and the Lord, devoted to noble acts, began a year's giving. At the end of the giving, the Indras came and held the initiation-festival, like the people the Indrotsava " at the end of the rainy season.
Then he got into a palanquin adorned with a lionthrone, named Pithivi, made by gods, asuras, and men.
09 110. See I, n. 386.
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