Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

Page 90

ŚREYANSANATHACARITRA
61
on duty: "Dismiss the singers while we are asleep. When the master is not attentive, exertion is useless." The chamberlain said, "Very well," in reply to the lord's command. Instantly sleep sealed Śārngin's eyes. But the chamberlain did not dismiss the singers because of his desire for their singing. The master's command can slip away from those whose minds are charmed by senseobjects. Then Adhokṣaja wakened in the last watch of the night and heard them singing as before with undiminished sweetness of sound.
Questioned by Tripṛṣṭha, "Why did you not dismiss these poor people who are obviously worn out?" the chamberlain said, "Lord, my heart was ensnared by the singing of those very men and I did not dismiss the singers. I forgot the master's order."
Then Kesava, enraged, had him imprisoned at once, and presided over the council at dawn like the sun over the east. Adhokṣaja recalled the events of the night, showed the chamberlain, and gave orders to the guards: "Pour hot tin and copper into the ears of that man devoted to singing. This fault was committed by the ears." They led away the chamberlain to a solitary place and did so. For the commands of kings whose commands are cruel are difficult to transgress. The chamberlain died from the pain and Śārngabhṛt acquired feeling-karma with evil
consequences.
Death of Tripṛṣṭha (884-898)
Constantly absorbed in sense-objects, devoted to infatuation with sovereignty, he counted the world a straw because of pride in the strength of his arm. Fearless in destruction of life, having great enterprises and possessions, with the ornament of right-belief broken by cruel actions, Tripṛṣṭha acquired a life as hell-inhabitant. After passing a life of eighty-four lacs of years, Tripṛṣṭha went to the seventh hell. There in an abode in Apratiṣṭhāna,80 he, five
80 887. Cf. K., p. 319.