Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 347

312
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Who are they? They do not live here. Dressed as monks, they are moving about even in the rains. Shall I ask them? Still, it is better not to talk with heretics.". As he was thinking this, they were given food by his wife.
The sages went to the dwelling of Acārya Dyuti and were greeted respectfully by Dyuti who rose to meet them. They were not greeted by his monks with the idea, “They are wandering out of season.” Dyuti gave them seats and they broke their fast there.. Saying, "We came from the city Mathura and now we shall go there," they flew up and returned to their own abode. Dyuti eulogized the merits of the leg-fliers and his monks who had shown disrespect felt remorse. Hearing that, the layman Arhaddatta felt remorse and went to Mathurā on the seventh day of the light half of Kārtika. After he had worshipped the shrines, he paid homage to the seven sages and asked them for forgiveness, relating the sin of disrespect that he had committed.
Satrughna learned that his territory had been freed from disease by the power of the seven sages and he went to the city on the full moon-day of Kārtika. Satrughna bowed to them and said, "Take alms in my house." They replied, "Royal food is not suitable for monks." Again Satrughna said to them: “You are my benefactors. A disease sent to my country by a god has been allayed by your power. Remain here today at least as a favor to the people. For all your way of life is in order to benefit others." They replied: "The rainy season has passed. This is the season for pilgrimages. Now we shall wander. Monks do not remain in one place. You should put a statue of an Arbat in each house of the people. Then no one in this city will ever have any disease.” Saying this the seven sages flew up and went elsewhere. Satrughna did as they said and the people became free from disease. He put statues made of jewels of the seven sages in the four directions of the city Mathurā.