Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 255

HERESY OF JAMĀLI, DEATH OF GOŚĀLA, 215 attacks on the Arhats, the removal of the embryo, the descent of the aerial cars of the Sun and Moon, the attack of Camara, an assembly of people incapable of emancipation, the one hundred and eight Siddhas, the going of Kșşņa to Aparakankā, the worship of householders, a woman Tirthankara, origin of the family of the Hari-line. Of these the descent of the aerial cars of the Sun and Moon has occurred. "
Meeting with Gośāla (354-433) After this explanation, the Lord went in his wandering to Śrāvasti and stopped in a garden Koșthaka in it. Gośāla had come here earlier, his rivals destroyed by a hot flash, the people's wishes known by knowledge of eightfold omens, and, calling himself by the word ‘Jina,' although he was not a Jina, he resided in the shop of a woman potter, Hālāhalā. The simple-minded people, after hearing his assertion that he was an Arhat, kept coming and gave him constant service.
Now when the proper time came, with the Master's permission Gautama entered the city for alms, wishing to break a two-day fast. Gautama heard, “ Gośāla, an omniscient Arhat, is here," and, after he had received alms, went to the Lord, in a depressed state of mind. After he had broken his fast properly at the right time, pure-minded Gautama asked the Lord, while the townspeople looked on: “ Master, in this town all the people call Gośāla 'omniscient.' Is this possible or not?”
The Blessed One said: “The son of the Mankha, Mankhali, thinking himself a Jina though he is not a Jina, Gośāla is a house of deceit. Initiated by me myself, taught by me, he resorted to wrong belief about me. He is not omniscient, Gautama."
After hearing this speech of the Master, the townspeople here and there in the city talked to each other at the junctions of three and four streets, “Oh ! the Arhat who has come here, Vira Svāmin, says that Gośāla, the son of Mankhali, falsely considers himself omniscient.” Then Gośāla