Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 142

102
CHAPTER FOUR 'torn by anguish at hearing of them. You are superior to diamond. By means of a slight attack still you will destroy the four destructive-karmas123 and acquire omniscience very soon.” After saying this, Hari, the Indra of the Vidyutkumāras, bowed to the Blessed One with devotion and went to his own home.
The Blessed One left and went to the city Svetavi and Harisaha, 124 the Indra of the Vidyuts, came there and paid homage to the Lord. After making the same assertion as Hari, he went to his own house.
The Lord went to Srāvasti and stood motionless in statuesque posture. In this city on that day the people held a great festival with a procession of Skanda's chariot accompanied by great pomp. The people of the city passed the Blessed One standing in statuesque posture and went to Skanda, carrying the paraphernalia for a pūjā to the statue. After they had bathed and worshipped Skanda's statue, the people got ready to mount it on the chariot according to rule.
At that time Sakra thought, “How does the Lord wander?” and by clairvoyance saw Vīra standing so and the townsmen. “Why do these people, undiscerning, make a pūjā to Skanda, passing by the Lord ? ” and Hari went there angrily. Skanda's statue, inhabited by Sakra, advanced like a mechanical doll to the Blessed One standing in statuesque posture. While the townsmen said, “Look! Skandakumāra will get into the chariot by himself,” he went to the Master. He circumambulated the Blessed One three times, bowed to him, and, seated on the ground, began to serve him. “Who is this entitled to worship from this god? We did not do a fitting thing surely, when we passed him by.” The townsmen saying this, feeling astonishment and joy, showed great honor to the Lord.
123 325. Ghātikarma--knowledge-obscuring, faith-obscuring, obstructive, and deluding. See I, App. II.
124 327. There were 2 Indras of the Vidyutkumāras. See I, p. 106.