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ŚRĪ DHARMANĀTHACARITRA
137 Stuti (40–47) "Reverence to you, the fifteenth Arhat, Supreme Lord, having a form deserving deepest meditation,192 absorbed in deepest meditation. I consider mortals more important than gods and demons, since you, who are entitled to homage in the three worlds, have appeared as leader of the congregation. Let me be a mortal now in this southern Bharatavarşa, as I wish to become your disciple, which is very effective for winning emancipation. What difference is there between hell-inhabitants and gods though happy to whom, negligent, there is no sight of you? As long as you, like the sun, did not rise, Lord of the Three Worlds, for just so long the heretics, like owls, prospered. Soon the whole half of Bharata will be filled by the water of your teaching of dharma, like a pond by that of a rain-cloud. O Supreme Lord, by making infinite people attain emancipation, you will make worldly existence uninhabited, like a king depopulating an enemy's territory. O Blessed One, even in heaven may my days pass with my mind clinging like a bee to your lotus-feet.” . After this hymn of praise, Sakra received the Master from the Vāsava of Išāna, took him, and deposited him at Queen Suvratā's side according to custom.
Life before initiation (49–53) Because his mother had a pregnancy-whim for religious duties, while he was an embryo, King Bhānu gave him the name Dharma. The Master passed his childhood playing with gods in the form of boys and attained youth, fortyfive bows tall. To satisfy the long-desired wish of his parents and to consume pleasure-karma, the Lord married. When two and a half lacs of years from his birth had passed the Master took the burden of the kingdom at his father's request. The Lord ruled the earth for five lacs of years,
102 40. See I, n. 409.
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