Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 122

82
CHAPTER FOUR angry without cause, made karma-destroying attacks on the Master. Appeased, she worshipped the Lord; and the Lord went in his wandering to the city Lohārgala which was ruled by King Jitaśatru.
At that time there was enmity between the king and another king. As he was going on the road with Gośāla the Master was seen by the king's men. The Master said nothing when he was questioned by the king's men; and there he was taken before Jitaśatru as a spy. Utpala, who had come before from the village Asthika, saw the Lord, paid homage to him, and described the true state of affairs to Jitaśatru. Honored by the king with devotion, the Blessed One went in his wandering to the city Purimatāla and this incident soon took place.
Episode of Vāgura (20–36) A wealthy sheth, Vāgura, lived there and his wife, Bhadrā, was barren, worn out by prayers and gifts to the gods for a child. One day the sheth and his wife went to the garden, Sakațamukha, and for a long time played like gods, gathering flowers, et cetera. Roaming about in their play, they saw a large dilapidated temple and both entered it from curiosity. The husband and wife saw a statue of Mallinātha that was like an ointment of nectar for the eyes and they bowed to it with faith:
“O god, if a son or daughter is born to us by your favor, we will erect a temple to you. From that time on, we shall always be worshippers of yours.” With these words the sheth and his wife went to their own house.
By the power of a Vyantari devoted to the Arhats, who was present there, an embryo developed in Bhadrā's womb, giving confidence to the sheth. From the day of the embryo Vāgura began joyfully to raise up a temple as well as himself from despair. Vāgura himself went there and made a pūjā three times a day to Malli's statue, having taken a vow to do so, pious. Knowing that he was a worshipper of the Jina, the monks and nuns met in his house to (start) their wandering and