Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 258

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CHAPTER EIGHT The Master said: “ Just as a robber, when approached by guards and when he has not reached a cave, or a stronghold or a forest, or invisibility of himself, being stupid, thinks himself concealed by a thread of wool or a thread of hemp or a bit of cotton or grass placed between, so you, the same Gośāla, are calling yourself otherwise. Why do you lie? You are the same one; you are not another."
Angered by this speech of the Master, Gośāla said to the Lord, “Now you are crushed, you are destroyed, you cease to exist, Kāśyapa.” A disciple of the Omniscient, Sarvānubhūti, unable to endure this talk because of devotion to his guru, said to the wretch Gośāla: “You were initiated by him as guru; you were taught by him alone. Why do you deny it, Gośāla? You are he and no one else.” Then from anger the wretch Gośāla discharged his unbeaten hot flash at Sarvānubhūti like a poison-eyed serpent a flame from its eyes. Consumed by Gośāla's hot flash, Sarvānubhūti died engaged in pure meditation and became a god in Sahasrāra.
Gośāla then, puffed up by the power of his hot flash, began to revile the Blessed One again and again. Sunaksatra, a disciple of the Master, from devotion to his guru reproved him severely as he was abusing the Master, as Sarvānubhūti had done. His body burning from a hot flash discharged by Gośāla, after circumambulating the Lord, taking the vows again, making confession, repenting his faults, asking forgiveness of all the munis, Muni Sunakṣatra died and became a god in the heaven Acyuta.
Then Gośāla, behaving like a conqueror, ranting with very harsh words, was addressed by the Master with compassion: “You were initiated and taught by me; you were made to know the scriptures by me. You speak evil of me alone. What is this perversion of mind of yours?”
Gośāla, so addressed by the Master himself, exceedingly angered, coming a little nearer, discharged a hot flash against the Lord. Powerless against the Master like a hurricane against a mountain, it circumambulated the Lord, resembling