Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 293

DASĀRŅABHADRA, SĀLIBHADRA, DHANYAKA 253 Sakra got into the aerial car, Jalakānta, which was beautiful with large lotuses on the edge of water clear as crystal, filled with the cries and answers of marālas and cranes, adorned with blossoms falling from the rows of creepers of kalpatrees, shining with blue lotuses made of sapphire, gleaming highly with blooming golden lotuses resting in lotus-beds made of emerald, bearing rows of pennants from the series of billowing waves. Fanned with fly-whisks by thousands of goddesses, listening a very little to a concert commenced by musicians, his gaze directed down on the earth purified by the Master's feet, then the lord of immortals descended to the world of mortals. Having descended to the world of mortals, Purandara mounted, with the support of their hands extended by the goddesses who had mounted first, the best of the elephants of the gods, mighty with eight tusks with sheaths made of jewels, his back covered with fine cloth, his feet-like a mountain with its base--set on golden lotuses adorned with stalks of emerald. The crest-jewel of the gods went to the samavasaraņa, penetrated with devotion, worshipper of the Lord Jina's feet.
Then concerts took place at every lotus in the pleasuretanks in the aerial car, Jalakānta. At each concert a god with rank corresponding to Indra, fair with divine beauty and finery, was a spectator. The magnificent retinue of each god like Maghavan was a source of astonishment to every one. Sakra himself was astonished at the magnificence of the aerial car. Why speak of other glories inferior to it?
Hari, observed by the astonished gods and men present there, bowed to the Lord again and again, his pearl-necklace touching the ground. Daśārņabhadra was transfixed instantly by the sight of Sakra's magnificence, like a villager by the magnificence of a city. His eyes opened wide from astonishment, Daśārnabhadra thought:
“Oh ! the splendor of Sakra's aerial car is the greatest in the world. Oh! the beautiful body of the elephant of Indra ! Oh! that extent of the power of Puruhůta! I