Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 124

84
CHAPTER FOUR since he waits for him.” With this idea they released Gośāla out of regard for the Master.
Wandering with him the Master gradually reached the cow-country (Gobhūmi). Gośāla said to the herdsmen: “ Mlecchas with a disgusting appearance, heroes of the cowpen, where does this road go? Tell us, sirs.” The herdsmen replied: “Why, traveler, do you abuse us so without cause? Certainly you are not our brother-in-law. ”101 Gośāla said again: “Sons of slaves, miserable sons of animals, will you not endure it then if I abuse you very much? This description
re was not abuse committed by me. Did I speak an untruth when I said, "You are disgusting Mlecchas?"" Angered, they beat him and bound him and threw him in a bamboo-thicket. Other travelers, compassionate, released him.
The Master went to Rājagpha and spent the eighth rainy season, observing a fast of four months, with numerous vows. At the end of four months, the Master broke his fast outside.
He reflected: “ This very day much of my karma is to be destroyed.” Accompanied by the miserable Gośāla the Master went to the Mleccha countries—Vajrabhūmi, Suddhabhūmi, Lāța, and others--for the destruction of karma. There the Mlecchas, resembling Paramādharmikas, 102 persecuted Śri Vira as they liked with various and numerous attacks. Some seized the Master; some laughed aloud. Some surrounded him with vicious dogs, et cetera. The Master was delighted by these attacks because of the destruction of karma, like one wounded by an arrow by cuts for the purpose of removing the arrow. The Lord looked on the Mlecchas-assistants in the destruction of karma—as brothers, or even more than that, himself a doctor for the disease of karma. This very Vira, from the pressure of whose big toe Mt. Meru trembled, wandered, oppressed by karma.
101 48. 'Brother-in-law' is a term of abuse in modern India.
102 55. Demons who torture souls in hell. There are 15 divisions of them. Sam. 15, p. 29 f.; com. to T. 3.5; com. to Uttar. 31. 12.