Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

Page 35

CHAPTER ONE
Purandara left Palaka in the northeast, entered the birthhouse, and bowed to the Arhat and the Arhat's mother. He gave the queen a sleeping-charm, put an image of the Arhat at her side, and made himself into five persons. Taking up the Lord with one, an umbrella with another, chauris with two more, and the thunderbolt with another who went in front, he set out. In a moment Śakra reached the rock Atipāņdukambalā and seated himself on it, holding the Lord on his lap.
Then the nine Indras of the heavens, Acyuta, et cetera; the twenty lords of the Bhavanapatins, Camara, et cetera; the thirty-two lords of the Vyantaras, Kāla, et cetera; the two Indras of the Jyotişkas, the Sun and Moon these sixty-three Indras came there for the Lord's bath. At the Indras' command the Abhiyogikas created full pitchers, et cetera. Then all the Indras in turn, beginning with Acyuta, made the Master's bath with pure water from the tīrthas. Then Sakra set the Lord of the World on Iśāna's lap and created four crystal bulls in the four directions. Then Sakra bathed the Master with clear water which had gushed from their horns, united at the top, and was flowing down. After he had destroyed the crystal bulls, had anointed, et cetera, the Lord, and had waved the light-vessel, Sakra began the following hymn of praise:
Stuti (75–82) “May your birth-kalyāņa, best of all kalyăņas, grant happiness to me filled with auspicious devotion. Why do I bathe, anoint, worship, and praise you, Lord? There is no satiety on my part in the task of your worship. The bull (of dharma) has been terrified by the tigers of adherents of false congregations. With you as protector, let it wander at will 18 now in the field of Bharatakşetra. Today, you yourself, having founded the temple of my heart,
18 77. With allusion to the sacred bulls that wander in India unmolested.