Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 139

........ MAHĀVĪRA'S WANDERING AS AN ASCETIC 99 pretext of tightening the waist-cloth, made apparent the surface of the round buttocks. One fair-eyed maiden made attractive for a long time her torso with full, high breasts under pretext of bending.
“If you are free from passion, why do you arouse passion in us? If you are indifferent to the body, why do you not give us even your breast? If you are compassionate, why do you not rescue us now from Kāma, whose bow has been drawn suddenly? If you are indifferent, as amusement, to us who desire love, a little of that is suitable, but not for a life-time. Master, relax your severity. Fulfil our wishes. Do not be averse to our prayer.” Some talked like this for a long time. The Teacher of the World was not disturbed by the songs, music, and dances, nor even by the contortions of their bodies and the enticing talk of the goddesses. Thus the basest of gods, Sangamaka, made twenty attacks on the Teacher of the World engaged in kāyotsarga during the night.
At daybreak Sangamaka thought: “Oh! He did not leave his meditation at all, like the ocean its shore. So, shall I go to heaven? How can I go with a broken promise? I shall continue to harass him with attacks for a long time.”
Then the Blessed One, his eyes directed on the road touched by sunlight for a distance of six feet, went to the village Vālukā. Sangamaka, the basest of gods, created five hundred thieves on the road and deep sand that resembled an ocean of sand. Saying aloud, “ Uncle ! Uncle ! ” the thieves embraced the Lord so closely that even a mountain would burst. The Teacher of the World, an ocean of the nectar of tranquillity, his feet sinking in the sand up to his knees, went to the village Vālukā. In this way the basest of gods, cruel by nature, following the Lord, made attacks on him in city, village, forest and elsewhere.
Six months passed while Sangamaka was making attacks. Then the Master went to Gokula and a festival was taking place there at that time. As the Blessed One had passed six months fasting, he wished to break his fast and entered