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STORIES OF RAUHIŅEYA AND OTHERS 289 Vidyunmālin assented to his command and, making haste, saw us222 standing like a statue in Kșatriyakundagrāma. Going to Mahāhimavat, he cut gośīrşa-sandal and made a statue of us adorned just as he had seen us. He put the image, like a miser a treasure, in a box which he himself had made from real sandal. Then Vidyunmālin went to the ocean and saw a boat which had been wandering for six months because of (natural) calamities. He stopped the calamities at once and, after he had told about the box with the image inside, gave it to the sea-trader and said to him, “Good luck to you. Go without misfortune to the town Vitabhaya in the country Sindhusauvīra. Then stop at the cross-roads and make a proclamation: “ Listen! Receive, receive the image of the god of gods.'” By the power of the image, the sea-trader at once crossed the ocean like a river and reached the shore. He went to the country Sindhusauvīra and the city Vitabhaya, stopped at the cross-roads, and made the proclamation just as he was told.
Later history of the image (388–606) King Udāyana himself, who was devoted to ascetics, went there, and Brāhmans with the triple staff and other ascetics. The people themselves, recalling Vişņu, Brahmā, Śiva and any other favorite god, struck the wooden box with an axe. The iron axes, struck against it constantly by the people at their pleasure, fell to pieces as if made of tin. While the king was absorbed in this wonder from break of day, midday came with the heat that burns the forehead. Queen Prabhāvati, who knew that it was past the king's mealtime, sent a servant to call the king. Indeed, that was suitable for one devoted to her husband. Prabhāvati, directed by the king to see the miracle, went to the place and asked about it; and the king described just what had happened.
The queen said: 'Verily, Brahmā and the other gods are not supreme gods. The Blessed Arhat alone is god of gods,
Vira is speaking.
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