Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 69

MAHĀVIRA'S BIRTH AND MENDICANCY
29 Sakra, his mind tender from devotion, was troubled by this thought. In order to remove his anxiety the Supreme Lord easily pressed down Mt. Meru with the tip of the big toe on his left foot. The peaks of Meru bent, as if to pay homage to the Lord, and the mountain-ranges moved as if to come into his presence. The waves rose high as if to give a bath and the earth trembled rapidly as if about to dance.
Thinking, “ What is this?” Biļaujas knew by employing clairvoyance that it had been done in sport by the Blessed One. “Master, ordinary people like me should be informed that such extraordinary strength, capable of such a thing, is yours. What I thought otherwise would be a sin, needlessly.” Indra bowed to the Supreme Lord, saying this.
The Lord's bath-festival was held by the Indras with pure fragrant water from the tirthas joyfully to the accompaniment of musical instruments that were played. The gods, asuras, men and Nāgas worshipped the bath-water and poured it repeatedly so it covered their whole bodies. The earth also, soaked with the Lord's bath-water, became worthy of worship. Verily, even an insignificant thing attains importance from contact with great ones. The Indra of Saudharma set the Lord on the lap of the Indra of Iśāna, bathed him, worshipped him, waved a light, and then chanted a hymn of praise:
Stuti (71-87)
“ Hail to thee, Arhat, Blessed One, self-enlightened, pious, Tirthankara, establisher (of dharma), most excellent of men. Hail to thee, light of the world, maker of light for the world, highest of the world, lord of the world, benefactor of the world. Hail to thee, choicest white lotus among men, beneficent, lion among men, the sole scent-elephant among men. To the giver of sight, the giver of fearlessness, the giver of enlightenment, the giver of the path, giver of dharma, guide in dharma, giver of protection, hail ! To the charioteer of dharma, the leader in dharma, the sole dharmacakrin, devoid of all error, possessing