Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 129

"The
MAHAVIRA'S WANDERING AS AN ASCETIC reached the place of the sesame-stalk, Gośālaka said, sesame-stalk has not ripened as the Master predicted. The Master said, The ripened sesame-stalk is found here. Gośāla did not believe it and split open the sesame seed-pod. Seeing the seven sesame seeds in it, Gośāla said, "People are born again, having returned to the very same body.
One day he went to the city Śrāvasti, abandoning the Master's feet, to acquire the hot flash described by the Master. He stayed at a potter's house, practiced the prescribed penance for six months and the hot flash resulted. To test the hot flash he went to the proximity of a well and, to create anger against himself, broke a slave-girl's jar with a rock. She began to abuse him and he discharged a hot flash instantly. It fell like lightning and burned the slave-girl. With confidence acquired in this way, devoted to the sight of curiosities, Gośālaka began to wander, surrounded by people. Six disciples of Śri Pārśva, learned in the eight divisions of the science of omens, who had abandoned their vows, joined Gośālaka. They were named Soņa, Kalinda, Karṇikāra, Acchidra, Agniveśāna, and Arjuna, the sixth. From friendship they explained the eight divisions of the science of omens to him. Friendship develops at once between men of the same character. Proud of the hot flash and the eightfold science of omens he began to wander over the earth, saying, "I am a Jina.
The Lord went from Siddharthapura to the city Vaiśāli and there Sankha, a friend of his father, a vassal, paid honor to the Lord. Then the Blessed One started to Vāņijakagrāma and on the way he crossed the river Maṇḍikikā by boat. As soon as he had debarked, the Blessed One was held on the hot sand on the bank by the sailors who asked for pay for taking him across the river. Just then the nephew, named Citra, of the vassal Sankha, came on an embassy and saw the Lord being held by the boatmen. He reviled the boatmen and had the Lord released. After Citra had paid homage to the Lord with extreme devotion, he went to his own city. And now the Blessed One went to Vānijakagrāma and
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