Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 166

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CHAPTER FIVĖ alone, in the three other directions. Then all the gods, men, et cetera, entered by the proper door and took their proper places, looking at the Master's face.
After he had paid homage to the Lord of the World, the Lord of the Gods (sakra), his hands folded in reverence, the hair on his body erect from pleasure, began a hymn of praise with devotion.
Stuti (26–39)139
“In you, whose body is beautiful and virtuous, who are an ointment of nectar for the eye, there is indifference to pain, to say nothing of destruction of hatred. Do the discerning live by the report, You have an adversary; he is pervaded by anger, et cetera ?' If your adversary is free from passion, he is like you, yourself. If an adversary of yours has passion, he is not an adversary. Is a firefly an adversary of the sun ? Since even the Lavasattamas 140 long for your ascetic practices, why even mention others who lack even the outer paraphernalia of ascetic practices? We take refuge with you as lord; we sing your praises; we worship you. There is no other protector except you. What can we say? What can we do? This world is deceived by others who have impure practices, devoted to deceit. Before whom can we complain? What intelligent person would rely on gods, emancipated forever, who are concerned about the creation, preservation, and destruction of the world, 141 who are like the sons of a barren woman? Others, believing in gods, satisfied with gods distressed by the
139 4. The stutis that occur from here on are to be found in the Vitaragastotra, whose commentary is very useful for understanding the very condensed, cryptic verses. This is no. 6 in the Vs., pp. 69 ff.
140 29. The very highest gods who live in Sarvārthasiddha. If they had lived 7 lavas (about 4 minutes) longer, they would have attained emancipation. See Sūtrakstānga 1. 6. 24; SBE 45, p. 291.
141 32. With reference, of course, to the Hindu Triad. When they are concerned with these things, how can they be emancipated ?