Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 261

HERESY OF JAMĀLI, DEATH OF GOŚĀLA 221 emancipation of Gośāla, the twenty-fourth Arhat. Go and ask him your doubt. For he, your guru, is omniscient."
Told this by them, he started to approach (Gośāla); and they told Gośāla in advance about his coming and his doubt. They had Gośāla put aside the wine-cup and other things and made him sit on a seat. At that time Ayampula came. Then the wretched Gośāla said to him seated before him: “ You have a doubt about the shape of the trņagopālikā. Know that the tịņagopālikā is the same shape as a bambooroot.” After hearing this, Ayampula, delighted, went to his own house.
One day Gośāla, who had regained consciousness and knew that it was the time of his own death, summoned his disciples and instructed them earnestly: “When I am dead, my body must be bathed in scented water, anointed with fragrant ointments, dressed in fine apparel, and adorned with divine ornaments. Immediately after that it must be put on a bier carried by a thousand men. Then it must be taken out in a procession. It must be proclaimed throughout the whole city: 'Gośāla, the twenty-fourth Lord Jina in this avasarpiņi, has reached emancipation.” : They promised to do this. On the seventh day, Gośāla, in whom a pure heart had developed, thought remorsefully: “Oh ! I am wicked. I have injured very much the Arhat Vira, my own teacher of dharma, in three ways, I, exceedingly evilminded. I called myself 'omniscient' and deceived all the people everywhere by false teachings which resembled he truth. Alas ! two sādhus belonging to the guru's party were consumed by me. Alas ! the hot flash was discharged against the Master for my own destruction. For the sake of a few days what crime did I not commit that results in dwelling in very many hell-abodes? Not only was I myself made a guest of hell, but all the people from the teaching of the wrong path. Very well. Even having gone so far, let the people go by the right path."
With these reflections, he summoned his disciples and