Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 371

OMNISCIENCE OF MAHĀVĪRA
331
his pious meditation praised by Dharana, remained unafraid of death as of battle in the past. He, clever, himself recalled the four: Arhat, Siddha, sādhu and dharma, conferring happiness, the essence of happiness, most superior.
“ The Arhats, giving instruction in the principles of soul, non-soul, et cetera, supreme gods, bestowing enlightenment, self-enlightened, are my refuge. The Siddhas, whose karma has been burned by the fire of meditation, consisting of splendor, imperishable, possessing limitless omniscience, are my refuge. Sādhus, desireless, free from egotism, indifferent to worldly affairs, tranquil-minded, observing the great vows, resolute, are my refuge. The highest dharma, consisting of non-injury, truthfulness, honesty, chastity, and poverty, taught by the omniscients, is my refuge. Whatever sin was committed against creatures in a hundred births, that I repent, steadfast, threefold in three ways. Whatever transgressions were committed by me when I was observing the twelvefold lay-dharma, I renounce all these. Whatever, injury, et cetera, was done in three ways by me always overcome by anger, conceit, deceit, and greed, shame on me!”
After making final propitiation thus, engaged in reciting the namaskāra, Cețaka died and became a participant in the joys of heaven. Asokacandra ploughed up the city, like a field, with ploughs hitched to donkeys; and fulfilled his vow. After crossing his vow like a river hard to cross, the lord of Campā went to the city Campā with a very great festival.
One day Śrī Vira, the Teacher of the World, purifying the earth by his wandering, went to Campā and stopped (in a samavasaraṇa) there. The wives of Śreņika, the mothers of Kāla and the others, disgusted with the world from the slaughter of their sons, took initiation under Śri Vira Svāmin. Kūņika went to the samavasaraņa to pay homage to the Supreme Lord, the destroyer of the doubts of the three worlds. After bowing to the Lord and seating himself in the proper place, Kūņika, choosing the proper time, his folded hands placed on his head, asked, “ To what status do the cakrins
-