Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 99

MAHAVIRA'S FIRST SIX YEARS AS AN ASCETIC wandering reached the city Surabhipura (City of Fragrance). The Lord arrived at the high-crested river Gangā that was like a scarf around the earth, like a counterpart of the ocean. The Blessed One wished to cross it and embarked on a boat made ready by the sailor Siddhadanta; and other travelers embarked also. The boat, with its sailors ready, began to move rapidly by means of two propelled poles, like a bird by its wings. Just then an owl on the bank gave a loud hoot. A soothsayer, named Kșemila, said: “This is certainly unpropitious. Soon we shall all meet fatal disaster, but we shall be saved from it by the power of the great sage.” Just as he spoke, the boat moved into deep water. A Nāgakumāra, Sudādha, saw the Lord in it, recalled the hostility of a former birth, and thought angrily:
“This is the one by whom in his Triprstha-birth, I, then a lion, was killed. I, living on a mountain far from this place, had committed no crime against him who was Triprstha then. 1, hidden in a cave, was killed at that time by him, proud of the strength of his arm and wishing to create excitement. By good fortune he is in my range of vision. I shall satisfy my hostility. For hostility between men lasts for a hundred births, like a debt. Even death ncar at hand would not trouble me now. Today I would be contented if satisfaction of former hostility is accomplished.”
With these reflections, Sudādha, angry, his eyes terrifying, came near Vira and, standing in the air, gave a cry, “Kila, kila !” Saying, “ O villain, where are you going?” he created a destructive hurricane, terrifying as the wind at the destruction of the world. Trees fell and mountains shook from it. The Gangā's water rose high with towering waves. The boat is lifted and lowered by the Gangā's waves rising and falling, like an object seized by an elephant. The mast was broken; the sail was torn; the terrified helmsman, like the soul of the boat, became confused. All the people on the boat, as if they were on the tip of Yama's tongue, thinking they were about to die, be wildered, began to call on the gods.