Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 92

CHAPTÉR THREE
pajā and paid homage to the Lord together with a great festival. As the people came and went daily in this way, the Vyantara Siddhārtha felt very great satisfaction.
One day the villagers there said, “ Master, a man by the name of Acchandaka lives in this village and he also has knowledge like you." Siddhārtha said to them: “He knows nothing. He fills his stomach by deceiving you simple people.” They went to Acchandaka and told him: “You know nothing. The devārya knows everything--past, present and future.” Fearful of losing his high position, Acchandaka said: “He knows only in the presence of you who are ignorant of the real truth. If he knows in my presence, then he really knows, I think. Now I shall go and expose his ignorance. Watch."
Saying this, Acchandaka, angry, surrounded by curious villagers, went very quickly to the Lord engaged in kāyotsarga. He took hold of some grass with his fingers on both sides and said to the Lord, “Shall I break this grass or not?” His intention was, “ I shall do the opposite of whatever the devārya says, so he will prove to be speaking falsely.” Siddhārtha replied, “You will not break the grass." His fingers fixed on it, Acchandaka began to break the grass. Just then, Sakra thought, “How does the Master wander now?” Employing knowledge and perception, he saw Acchandaka's actions. “A speech uttered by the Master's mouth must not be untrue.” With this thought Vajrabhịt cut off Acchandaka's ten fingers with a thunderbolt. Astonished, ridiculed by all the people because he did not break the grass, Acchandaka went elsewhere, his mind confused like a madman.
Then Siddhārtha said to the villagers, “This Acchandaka is certainly a thief.” The villagers asked, “Master, what has he stolen and from whom?” Siddhārtha said, “There is a laborer here, Viraghoşa.” Hearing that, iraghoșa bowed and showed himself, saying, “At your service.” Siddhārtha said again, “ A dish of yours of ten palas in weight disappeared from your house in the past.” Ghoşa agreed and Siddhārtha said: “It was certainly taken by that heretic. The proof can