Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 146

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CHAPTER FOUR praņāma; and carried a begging-bowl, made of wood, with four sections. Starting from that very day, he observed fasts of two days constantly and daily emaciated himself by exposure to the sun. When the day for breaking fast came, he took his vessel of four sections and went for alms at noon. He gave travelers, et cetera the alms that were thrown into the first section; the alms of the second section he gave to crows, et cetera; those of the third section he gave to water-creatures, fish et cetera; the alms of the fourth section he ate himself, without like or dislike.
After performing thus fool's-penance for twelve years, he undertook a fast in the northeast of the hamlet Vibhela. After fasting for a month he died, and because of the fool'spenance he became the Indra Camara in Camaracañcā with a life-term of a sāgaropama. As soon as he was born, looking quickly at the other worlds with the eye of clairvoyance, he saw the Indra of Saudharma above. When he saw Sakra occupying the palace Saudharmāvatansaka, holding the thunderbolt, very magnificent, he, angry, said to his attendants:
“Who is this seeker of the unsought, placed over my head, wicked, who glitters so, shameless, a disgrace to the gods ? ”
The Sāmānikas, et cetera, their folded hands touched to their hands, said: “This is the Indra of Saudharmakalpa, very powerful, whose commands are cruel.” Exceedingly angry at hearing that, Camara, his face terrifying from frowns, his fly-whisks upset by his snorting, said: “You are ignorant of my own power, so you praise him. I will show you my own strength by humbling him. Placed in a high position by chance, he is not a lord because of that. Does a raven, seated on an elephant's trappings, become a driver? For so long as he has stayed, he has stayed, sirs. But in future he will not stay, since I am angered. When the sun has risen there are no light and darkness.”
The Sāmānikas said: “He became lord of the gods, possessing a high degree of magnificence and power, because of merit acquired in a former birth. In accordance with your