________________
TENTH INCARNATION AS MEGHARATHA
283
open-eyed, looked at it and accepted it quickly; went to the garden with a suitable retinue, and played there.
Pșthvisenā, having received permission, wandered there apart, saw the Muni Dantamathana of distinguished learning. Delighted, she honored the muni, feeling intense devotion, and listened to a sermon producing disgust with existence. Immediately taking leave of the king, afraid of birth, she adopted mendicancy before Dantamathana King Abhayaghosa went to his own house, praising the remarkable conduct of Queen Pfthvīsenā.
One day Abhayaghoşa, seated on his lion-throne on the roof of his palace, like a sun at rest, saw the best of Jinas, Ananta, with the sign of a Tīrthakệt,886 wandering as an ordinary ascetic, enter the gate. Rising hastily and taking suitable food, he approached the Blessed One with a bow. The Blessed One broke his fast with the alms he gave and the gods rained the five things, a stream of treasure, et cetera. After he had broken his fast, the Blessed One went elsewhere. For the Jinas, like other munis, do not stay anywhere, while they are ordinary ascetics.
One day after his omniscience had appeared, Tīrthakrt Ananta came in his wandering to the town Vajrapura and stopped there. Abhayaghosa came and circumambulated him three times with devotion, praised him, and listened to a sermon destroying birth. At the end of the sermon the king bowed to the Blessed One and said: • “You have come here, like a kalpa-tree, because of people's merit. Your actions are only for the benefit of others. O master, so you are requested: Wait a moment, you who are respected by everyone, an ocean of compassion, until I return for initiation at your lotus-feet, after I have imposed the entire burden of the kingdom on my son."
886 134. Tirthakyllinga. This is the devadūşya that Sakra gives a future TirthakȚt at the time of his initiation. That is the only garment that he uses thereafter. He can always be recognized by this cloth.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org