Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

Page 290

EIGHTH INCARNATION AS VAJRĀYUDHA
261
the earth. At the right time she bore a son indicated by favorable dreams, complete with all the favorable marks, like a sun in splendor. On an auspicious day the parents named him Sahasrāyudha with a festival superior to the birth-festival. He grew up gradually filled with the collection of arts, like the moon with digits, and attained youth. He, Makaradhyaja in beauty of form, married Princess Kanakaśrī, who surpassed Sri in beauty. A son, Satabali, like the wind in strength, with all the male lucky marks, was borne by her to him. . One time King Kșemankara presided over the council with sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, friends, ministers, and vassals. At that time there was a conversation of the gods in Aiśānakalpa to this effect, “(All) the people with firm right-belief on earth are inferior to Vajrāyudha." A god, Citracūla, who did not believe that speech, went to Kșemankara's assembly, wearing a crown of various jewels and dangling earrings, his mind confused by wrongbelief, having become an unbeliever, evil-minded, wishing to make a test.
While various conversations were taking place there, the god, rejecting the light of belief, said resolutely: “There is no virtue, no vice, no soul, no other world. People suffer in vain from the idea that these exist.”.
Vajrāyudha, possessing sincere belief, said: "Oh! an inconsistency on your part is apparent. What speech is this, eloquent sir ? While you employ clairvoyant knowledge, consider carefully. For that power of yours is the fruit of the practice of dharma in a former birth of your own, In a former birth you were a mortal; now you are an immortal. If there is no soul, then explain how this happens. In this world you attained a mortal state; in the other world a divine state. So the other world is apparent, like this world, O wise man."
Enlightened in this way by Ksemankara's son, Citracula said: “That was well-done, very well-done by you. I, falling into the ocean of existence, was lifted by you,