Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 269

CHAPTER IX
STORIES OF THE PLOUGHMAN; PRASANNACANDRA; THE GOD DARDURANKA; THE FUTURE ARHATSHIP OF ŚREŅIKA; SĀLA, MAHĀSĀLA; THE CLIMBING OF AȘTĀPADA BY GAUTAMA; AMBADA AND SULASĀ
Story of the ploughman (1-20) Now, the Ahikumāra, Sudanșțra, who made attacks on the Lord in the boat, became a ploughman in a certain village. One day he, who made his living by the plough, had begun to plough a field, when Sri Vira came to the village. Gautama was sent by the Master to enlighten him and said, “What are you doing?” He replied, “What is imposed by fate." Again Gautama said: “ What happiness or what good deeds of yours can there be when you live by a cruel means of livelihood? This work of yours, sir, marked by destruction of life, causes pain not only here in this life), but leads to pain in other births also. If the exertion of that pernicious work were made in religious work even in a thousandth part, then there would surely be an end to misery.”
Addressed by Gautama in this way, he said: “I have been well enlightened by you today. Then give me, afraid of existence, initiation." Recognizing that he was enlightened, Gautama initiated him and set out to go with him to Sri Vira's feet. The ploughman-sādhu said to him, “Where must you go now, Blessed One?” Gautama said, “Sādhu, I must go to my guru.” The ploughman said, “Surely no one is equal to you. Why do you have a guru and what is he like?"
Gautama explained: “I have here as my guru the guru of the world, possessing thirty-four supernatural qualities, omniscient, the last Jina.” Hearing that, the ploughmansādhu, feeling friendliness to the Omniscient, acquired the