Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 96

ŚRĪ MALLINĀTHACARITRA
Our words to this effect are true." So making the people of the cities and the country progress in this religion, she came one day in her wandering to the house presided over by Malli. Carrying the triple staff, wearing reddish garments, after sprinkling the ground with water from the water-jar with darbha grass,46 she sat down on her mat.
She explained (her) dharma as it was to Malli, as she had to other people; but Malli, having the three kinds of knowledge, said: "Liberality alone does not lead to dharma. If it did, the feeding of cats, cocks, et cetera would be for its sake. How can purity be from sprinklings with water from sacred places which are rooted in destruction of life? Does a smear of blood become clean by being washed with blood? Dharma has its root in discernment; there is none of one lacking in discernment. Penance on his part results merely in torment of the body without a doubt."
Spoken to in this way by Malli, Cokṣā was ashamed, her face downcast. By whom can a proper speech by a superior be resisted? She was reviled by slave-girls, et cetera saying, "How long have you deceived the world by your false teaching, O heretic?
61
Cokṣā reflected: "Since I have been abused as they liked by her, arrogant because of royal prestige, and by her attendants following their mistress's wish, I will cast her among many co-wives by my own wit, to pay the debt of their hostility."
She went away, her mind inflamed with anger, and went to King Jitaśatru in Kampilya. She was received by the king with great respect; after she had bestowed a blessing, auspicious in speech, she sat down on her mat. She was honored with devotion by the king and the women of his family; and there also she explained dharma as caused by liberality and sprinkling with holy water. The king said:
46 125. A bunch of darbha is kept in the mouth of the water-jar and is used to sprinkle the water.