Paumacariya 66

English (machine translation) 66

Language: English

66.1

Hearing the messenger's words, the Ten-faced One, joined with his own ministers,
held counsel for the sake of victory, deeply tormented by grief for his sons:

66.2

"Even though I slay the enemy who collides with many throngs in battle,
nevertheless the destruction of my sons is certainly seen.

66.3

Or else, having gone by night and destroyed the sleeping enemies,
I shall bring the excellent young princes at once, unperceived."

66.4

As he was reflecting thus, the idea suddenly came to him:
"I shall master the great spell named Bahurūpā.

66.5

It cannot be conquered even by gods; it will become a great spell of immense power."
Having reflected thus, he summoned his servants and said:

66.6

"At once make beautiful decorations of archways and the like for the temple of Śāntinātha;
arrange great worship in all the temples of the supreme Jinas."

66.7

Then all that responsibility was entrusted to Mandodarī.
At that time it was the month of Phālguna, resounding with the high notes of cuckoos.

66.8

In the dispensation of Munisuvrata, this Bharata [realm] was adorned with Jina temples,
rejoicing and gladdened by village headmen, merchants, landholders, and bhavya souls.

66.9

Here there was no village, nor city, confluence, or noble mountain,
three-way crossing, courtyard, or square where there was no temple of the Jinendras,

66.10

resembling the moon and kunda flowers, resounding with various musical instruments,
bearing various banner emblems, with their floors strewn with various flowers,

66.11

thronged with monks, echoing with the praise of bhavya souls at the three junctions of the day,
rich in well-worshipped Jina images of gold and precious stones,

66.12

their houses adorned with ghee-lamps, umbrellas, fly-whisks, hanging garlands, and mirrors,
all thoroughly embellished by men for the Jinendras.

66.13

Thus the city of Laṅkā, with its delightful temples of the supreme Jinas
so greatly adorned, shone like Indra's city visibly present.

66.14

Thus in the month of Phālguna, beginning from the bright eighth
up to the full-moon day, the eight-day festival commenced.

66.15

Thus, in both armies, the people were engaged in undertaking vows;
for eight days, O Śreṇika, another too practices self-restraint.

66.16

Even gods in the world of the gods, with minds intent on worshipping the caityas,
together with their whole retinues, are devoted to bowing down on these days.

66.17

Having gone to the excellent Nandīśvara Island for eight days, the gods
perform worship of the Jina caityas with divine flowers.

66.18

The gods perform the bath of milky water with golden pitchers;
here [on earth] the anointing of the Jina should be performed even with leaf-cups.

66.19

The gods perform worship of the supreme Jinendras with golden flowers;
here, however, worship should be performed by a human with fresh petals.

66.20

The people in the city of Laṅkā, their firm devotion awakened by great enthusiasm,
adorned the caitya temples with banners, umbrellas, pennants, and the like.

66.21

The grounds were cleanly swept and smeared with gośīrṣa sandalwood,
and then decorated with rows of beautiful designs made of gold and jewel powders.

66.22

Doors shone with hanging garlands of diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds;
worship was performed with fragrant and sweet-smelling flowers.

66.23

At the doorways, full pitchers filled with curd, milk, and ghee were placed,
their mouths covered with excellent lotuses, for the sake of the supreme Jina's worship and anointing.

66.24

Drums resounded in the Jina temples with the deep sound of thunderclouds,
filled with jhallarīs, huḍukkas, and tālīmas, and abundant in sharp paṭahas and bherīs.

66.25

Like an ornament of the city, situated in the midst of thousands of rows of mansions,
the Ten-faced One's palace shone, like a peak of Mount Kailāsa.

66.26

Adjoining it was the delightful temple of the Jina Lord Śānti, filled with a thousand pillars,
with various decorations shining with heated gold.

66.27

Adorned on all sides, with worship performed with various gems and flowers,
the steadfast Rāvaṇa entered it for the sake of mastering the spell.

66.28

The three worlds seemed shaken by the varied sounds of paṭaha drums and musical instruments;
even the sky was turned reddish-yellow by the dust of the bath, anointing, and pigments.

66.29

The high-souled lord of Laṅkā, with pure and fragrant intentions,
performed worship with offerings, perfumes, incense, and flowers.

66.30

Clad in white garments, observing vows, his cheeks radiant with earrings,
having bowed down in three ways, he sat on the paved floor.

66.31

Facing Śāntijina, becoming steadfast in the half-lotus posture,
holding a rosary in hand, he began to meditate upon the spell.

66.32

Having been entrusted with the burden earlier, Mandodarī then said to the minister
named Yamadaṇḍa: "Make a proclamation immediately in the city:

66.33

'Ah! Let all the people, endowed with austerities, vows, and moral conduct,
be intent on the worship of the supreme Jina and compassionate toward living beings!

66.34

Whoever, under the influence of anger, commits a sin during these days,
he shall be executed, even if he is dear [to the king], let alone an ordinary person!'"

66.35

By Yamadaṇḍa the townspeople were told according to Mandodarī's command:
"Let no man here commit a sin, even if ill-behaved!"

Hearing the minister's words, the people became devoted to the teaching of the supreme Jinendra,
ever engaged in performing the prescribed worship of the pure temples of the Siddhas that shine like the moon.

66.37

Thus ends the sixty-sixth chapter in the Paümacariya, entitled 'The Observance of Vows by the Whole Population during the Phālguna Eight-Day Festival'.

Linked texts (1)

Paümacariya — Vimalasūri, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit