Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

Page 47

18
CHAPTER ONE
festival. Cherished by the nurses and playing with Acala, the Vasudeva Tripṛṣṭha gradually grew up. As a child, wearing an anklet of tinkling small balls, he played with Balabhadra going in front, like an elephant with its driver. He, very intelligent, grasped all the arts with ease, like a mirror a reflection, his teachers being present as witnesses. In course of time he became of military age, strong-chested, long-armed, as if he were the same age as Balabhadra, though a younger brother. The two brothers, playing together constantly without interruptions, looked like the bright and dark fortnights embodied. Wearing dark blue and yellow garments, with palm tree- and garuda-banners, they looked like living Svarṇaśaila and Añjana mountains.31 When Acala and Kṛṣṇa moved in play, the earth shook from their steps which were like claps of thunder. Strong elephants could not endure the sport of slaps on their bosses by the men-elephants mounted on them. The peaks of large mountains were like ant-hills, torn down by them, strong-armed, in play. Not afraid of demons, et cetera, to say nothing of others, the princes became the protection of those seeking protection. Tripṛṣṭha was never without Acala nor Acala without Tripṛṣṭha. They acted together like one mind with two bodies.
2:
Story of Asvagrīva (246-752)
Now in the city Ratnapura, there was a Prativisņu, Aśvagrīva, son of Mayuragrīva, borne by Nilañjana. He was eighty bows tall, with the color of a new cloud, 82 with a life of eighty-four lacs of years, long-armed. The itch of his arms was not satisfied by beatings of his enemies, like that of a lion by rending the boss of an elephant. He, very powerful, long-armed, eager for a great war, was satisfied neither by enemies submissive nor by them fighting. His strength, constantly causing a flood of tears to flow
31 240.
32
247.
2B
I.e., gold and antimony. See II, p. 120. I.e., dark.