Canto 10 - The pilgrimage undertaken by Vastupala

[Full title: English translation of the Vasantavilasa, Canto 10: The pilgrimage undertaken by Vastupala]

[Cantos ten to thirteen contain a detailed description of the pilgrimage undertaken by Vastupala. In the tenth Canto it is narrated that Vastupala decided to undertake pilgrimage to mountains named Satrunjaya and Girnar as per the instructions of his spiritual preceptor. When he approached King Viradhavala, he also approved his resolve. The King told him for the expansion of the kingdom. Bowing down to King Viradhavala, Minister Vastupala entrusted the work of administration to his brother Tejapala and set out on the resolved pilgrimage. Four feudatory chiefs accompanied him and the Sangahapatis from Lata, Gauda, Maru, Kaccha, Dahala, Avanti and Vanga gathered together and joined him. They were all hounoured by him with

183 • various presents. He provided all necessities and comforts to the pilgrims. On his way he paid visits to all temples and offered his salutations to all deities. He ordered the repair of all old temples. In Valabhi-pattana, he made a halt. From here, Vimala mountain was showed to him by Vijayasena Suri. Here he observed a religious festival and gave a dinner to all the pilgrims who were present during his visit. Vastupala's wife Lalitadevi offered, with reverence and devotion, alms to the ascetics in the holy place. Then they all reached Padaliptapura. Here he worshipped in the temple of Parsvanatha. Then all the pilgrims began to ascend the Vimala mountain after worshipping Kapardi Yaksa, Vastupala entered the temple of Adinatha and offered worship in eight different ways. A great flag made of China cloth was hoisted on the temple. An enchanting dance-performance was offered to God Adinatha] Minister Vastupala went to his spiritual preceptor to know the implications of the dream seen by him. The preceptor told him to go on pilgrimage to holy places. Accordingly he decided to carry out the instructions of the preceptor and went to King Viradhavala and addressed him :- "O my Master! every where the warrior-class has become tarnished by the Kaliyuga. But not my Master. Even time blackens all types of metals; but, it cannot likewise blacken gold-metal. A firm man never becomes pervert even when he comes in contact with the wicked Kaliyuga. Does a cuckoo, even though nourished by harsh-voiced crow, coo harshly? Therefore, your

21 184 Majesty, even in this Kaliyuga, some pure particle of the Krayuga does rule in this world and due to it your Majesty does not commit mistakes in cases of justice and Dharma. 141 "Your Majesty! It has been laid down that persons in the Kaliyuga, to be on the right path should go on pilgrimages. If you agree. I desire to go on such pilgrimages. In this world, kingdom prospers with wealth; wealth grows through Dharma; and Dharma spreads on account of pilgrimages done with your permission." 142 King Virdhavala became delighted on listening to the words of Vastupala and replied: "Vastupala ! Really I am fortunate that I have a Minister like you. You happen to be my second body; you are free to undertake any measure which will bring prosperity to my kingdom." " 143 The reply of King Viradhavala pleased Minister Vastupala. He called his brother Tejapala and told secretly :- "Our family-preceptor who knows all beneficial and true things has told me to undertake pilgrimages and thereby to increase the prosperity of the kingdom and to make my birth fruitful. This has been agreed upon even by his majesty King Virdhavala. Hence I am entrusting the rule of this country to you, taking it away from my shoulders. You win over the subjects by sweet talk full of humility and by light taxes. Please see that stars resort to the Moon who has delicate rays, but not to the Sun who has no such rays. You patronise i

185 all the six systems of philosophy by donating duly food and clothing to their followers. The blessings uttered by them do certainly increase the prosperity of both the King and the kingdom."144 Having heard these words Minister Tejapala accepted the order of Minister Vastupala with folded hands on his head and with his neck bent with humility. Then Minister Vastupala sent invitations in all directions to all the Sanghas to join him on the pilgrimage, Vijayasena Suri annointed him as Sanghapathi; Four feaudatory chiefs with a number of chariots, elephants, horses and foot-soldiers arrived and joined Vastupala. The Sanghapatis from Lata, Gauda, Maru, Kaccha, Dahala, Avanti and Variga gathered there, as many rivers pour into the ocean. Minister Vastupala became immensely pleased on seeing them gathering there and honoured them all with various presents. He provided all necessities like carriages, oil, food-articles, utensils and even medicines to the pilgrims. 145 Having made all the arrangements he took the leave of King Viradhavala and Minister Tejapala, his brother, and started on the pilagrimage. 146 On their way there were foot soldiers armed with bows and swords guarding them in front and in the rear. Vastupala was always guided by the enlightening advice of Vijayasena Suri. He was pure both inside and outside. On his way, Vastupala and his caravan of pilgrims worshipped all the deities

186 by visiting all the temples. Following the instructions of his preceptor he repaired all the old temples. 147 On his way, he met bards who were singing songs praising great and . holy persons. He pleased them all by fulfilling their desires. He pleased the needy persons by giving them food, water and even medicines. He gave gifts of food and clothing to rightreous persons and gave wealth to the poor and the needy. He was like the ocean of charity. He promised freedom from fear to the frightened. He released as per his powers all those who had been kept in prison in towns which he visited. 148 The caravan of pilgrims led by Vastupala reached the city called Valabhipattana. There it halted to take rest. During their halt, Vijayasena Suri showed to him with his pointed finger a mountain named Vimala. 149 Vastupala was immensely pleased to have the sight of the holy mountain. He visited all the temples in the city and worshipped the deities. Together with his wife Lalitadevi, he celebrated religious festivities in the city and gave a dinner to all the pilgrims. His wife distributed with devotion alms to all ascetics in that holy place. 150 The God Sun in the sky became amazed to see the conduct of Vastupala who had conquered even the Kaliyuga and so quickly he departed to report the same to God Varuna. 151

187 When the sky was full of moon-light, Vastupala led his caravan of pilgrims towards Vimala-mountain. On their way they reached Padaliptapura where the made a halt. In that city there was the temple of Parsvanatha. Vastupala together with all pilgrims worshipped parsvanatha and began to climb the mountain. 152 As a measure to destroy all the obstacles in the path of the caravan, Vastupala worshipped Kapardi Yaksa and then they all entered the temple of Adinatha. Some devotees with raised hands began to dance, some others began to roll over the ground; still others began to shout loudly "Victory to Jina." » 153 Vastupala prostrated before Adinatha falling flat on the ground. He stretched both his hands and held firmly Adinath's feet, with folded hands and looking intently the face of the God, he praised the God with newer and newer songs. 154 They all performed religious bath in the holy waters of the sacred place; they dressed themselves in cleanly washed white clothes; they annointed themselves with fragrant Small-paste. They offered the worship by beating drums, blowing conches and playing on other musical instruments. All types of worship like annointing with sandal and other perfumes, offering various flowers, adoring with manifold ornaments, dressing with precious clothes, whirling round the sacred light - all types of worship was offered to Adinatha

188 by Vastupala. Having seen that worship, Kali, the sinful, became like a moth and as if to destroy him, Vastupala offered Aguru-dhuma (smoke of Aguru-wood) to Adinatha. Then he offered the worship of Aksatas (sacred rice) and also offered Naivedya or food to the God. Thus he offered the worship of eight varieties, Candana, puspa,abharana,vastra,dipa,dhupa,aksata und anna. 155 A great flag made of china cloth was hoisted on the top of the temple of Adinatha. It shone like the path to heaven within the reach of the hands of human beings. A dance-performance was then offered to the God. 156 Vastupala felt unable to leave the place of Adinatha which was like the place of a father to a son. But he had to depart to visit other pilgrim-places. Hence he prayed to Adinatha; "O Lord, with both my eyes covered with tears, with both my hands folded with devotion before you, and having thrown my head on your lotus-like feet, I beg only one thing. That is, if you are the cause of all that is beautiful, if there is compassion in your mind. O God, saluted by the whole world, then give me your sight once again." Thus Vastpuala bade goodbye to the feet of Adinatha. He offered worship to Kapardin. He distributed wealth liberally to the supplicants and then descended from the mountain. 157 :

Footnotes for Canto 10:

ksatriyah kaliyugena dusitah sarvato'pi na tu mamakah prabhuh | kalato'pyakhiladhatu jitvari syamika na kanakasya jayate || 7 || papakalakalikalasangato'pyeti naiva vikrtim krti janah | utkathoraravaka kapositah kvapi kujati katuni kokilah || 8 || tatkalavapi kala bhavatyasau jrmbhate krtayugasya pavani || nyayadharmavidhisu pramadyate sasvadeva na hi deva !yattvaya || 6 || deva ! tirthapadavi daviyasi nirmita kaliyugenuyanginam | tam nitantamadaviyasam tvadadesato racayitum mano'sti me || 10 || rajyametadupaciyate sriya jayate jagati sapi dharmatah | jrmbhate sa tu sutarthayatraya sapi deva ! bhavati tvadajnaya || 11 || mantrina nigaditam mahipatistannisamya muditastamucivan | vastupala ! mama bhalasallipah kapi yasya sacivo bhavadrsah | | 12 || yena yena vidhina vijrmbhate rajyametadadhikadhikam mama | tam tamarjayitumicchaya bhavanmavakam pratisariramarhati | 13 || bhubhujadapi taditi pranoditah srivasantasacivah pramedabhaku | tejapalamatha bandhumatmano bandhuvagita rahasya bhasata || 14 || 246

247 145) 146) atmagotragurubhirmamedamaveditam sakalatatvadhibhih | yatkrtarthaya sutirthayatraya vaibhavam nijamidam ca vai bhavam || 15 || sammatam samajanistha bhuvaterapyadastadiyamurvaradhura | durdhara tyi nivesita maya svamsatah samavatarya samprati ||16 | | tvam praja nayasujatavaksamavarjayeh kimapi komalaih karaih | pasya komalakaro nisevyate tarakairapi sasi na bhanuman || 17 || darsanani sadapi prasadayerannapanavasanairyathayatham | asisah kila tadananodita varddhayanti nrparajyasampadam || 18 || diyate sma sumahan gurudarastasya tatra himavanivoncalah | sarvato'pi patamandapavali padaparvatanibha'sya ca'bhavat || 23 || syandanavalipadatimandalibiyahastikacamu samanvitaih | mandaladhipatibhiscaturbhiravasitam nrnidesitairiha || 24 || latagaudamarukacchadahalavantibangavisayah samantatah | tatrasangapatayah samayayustoyadhaviva samastasindhavah || 25 | | agatam vividhadesatatastah saisa sanghajanatam pramodabhak | vastupalasacivah sucikriyah saccakara vividhairupayanaih || 26 | | tirthavandanakrte tatah krti tejapalamayamatmano'nujam | tam ca viradhavalam ksitindramaprcchaya sanghapatiruccacala sah | | 31 |

147) 148) 149) agratah subhahu prstatontara capi capakaravalapanayah | pattayo'sya pathi sanghabhupateh sanghalo kariraksanam vyadhuh || 32 || sarvada vijayasenasurivakpurita srutirayam tamascayam | brahmacarya mahasa mahiyasa bahyamantarapi vyapohayat || 33 || tirthavartmani sa samgharat vrajamstirthabhuvananyapujayat ! jirnatamupagatani yani tanyuddhadhara ca gurupadesatah || 34 || bandigathakagananmahatmanam namakirtinaparan sukirtanah | vanchitartha karanaih prasadayamasa cardhvani sa pesaladhvanih | | 36 | | vaidyabhesajabharannavahanambobhirabhijinakrtyavinjanam | badhitam ksuditamahitasramam tarsitam ca sukiticakasah || 37 || nihsvadharmikajanananaratam saccakara basanasanadibhih | dinaduhsthitajanam janesvarah praptasampadayamanvakampat || 38 || bhitabhitabhayapradhanato danatoyadhirasamamodayat | tirthamarganagaresu saktito'mocayacca nrpabandhanasthitan || 36 || sangharat balabhipattanavanimandale'tisuramandalesvarah | utprayanakamaci karatkrti sanghalokasukhadaprayanakah || 42 || tatrasanghapataye navenduyavatpavani vimalasamjnito gie | anguli kisalayagrasamjnaya darsito vijayasenasuribhih || 43 || 248 :

150) harsatastamavalokya bhudaram sangangharat patahatanapurvakam | sanghalokasakatesu sarvato yantraketanapatanalambayat || 48 || 151) 152) sailamatvamanasiva darpane sankramayya saha dharmabandhubhih | sanghabhupatirasevata sriya bhasibhih snapanacarcanarcanaih | | 46 || 1 devatalayajine situstatah sanghalokagurubhih samanvitah | vandanarasnapanarcanarcanapreksanadi bitatana samgharat || 50 || sarvato'pi rasapakanditairnirmite rasavasatisamuccaye | tiprayalitavevyato yatin pratyalabhayadativa bhaktih || 51 | | tena sanghajanatasu jenamam tasu nirmitavatisu sarvatah | nirmite tadanu sanghabhubhuja bhejanam tadanu casya kantaya || 52 || kautukena kalikalajitvaram vastupalacaritam vilokya tat | bhanumanatha jagama jalpitum turnameva pustah pracetasah || 53 || padalipta puramandanam jinam parsvanathamatha papamanthanah | sarvasanghajanatanvitah samabhyarca tirthagirimaruroha sah || 56 || 153) srikapardinamudirnamutpurah sanghavighnahatinighnamutparah | sanghabhupatirupetya pujayamasa mamsala suvarnapujaya || 60 || dharmalabhamucitam kapardine te vitirya guravah sasadhavah | samghasamghapatisamyutastatastirthanathabhavanam prapedire || 61 | | 249

154) 155) 250 bhavino'tra nanrtuh sphuratkarah kepi kepi lutadangakanyaduh | adinathamavalokya kecana vyahajjaya jineti bharatim || 62 | | samgharat samabhisrtya bhutalanyasta bhalaphalakah krtanatih | adinathapadayoh prasaritodarabahurupaguhanam vyadhat || 63 | | bhavabhasuramanah purah prabhorurdhva eva sukrti krtanjalih | tanmukhahitavilocano'stavittam navinakavitakira gira || 64 || tubhyamuddhrtagunaya bhurbhuvahsvahstutaya bhavabhitibhedine | sriyugadijinanatha ! yoginam dhyanagamyaparamatmane namah | | 65 | | candanainamadakunkumagurusvedasaraghanasarakardamaih | nirmame tadunu samghaparthivastirtha nathavapuso vilepanam | | 74 || mallikabakulajatiyuthikaketa kabja satapatracampakaih | adinathamatha saisa pujayamasa vasama ivavanigatah | | 75 | | kankanangadakiritakundalasvarna dhamabhirayam sudhamabhih | tam vibhusya jinamasya hastayornyastavankanakabijapurakam || 76 || dharmikah sa paridhamanekadharupadhamabhirathamsukairvyadhat | yaistrilokavanakalpapadapah pallavairiva jino vyarajayata || 77 || agrato jinapateh sudipakasrenikamayamakarayatkrti | tatprasastimiva yajnjanaksaraiscaityabhittisu lilekha tatksanat | | 78 | |

251 156) 157) viksya sanghamimamudyatam bhiya yah kalirmasakamatratamagat | tadvighatanakrte'gurucchidadhumadhumamatha sa vyapancayat || 76 || aksatanatha sa daksatanvitah satphalani saphalikrtepsitah | pakvamannamatha tirthakrtpuro'dikayacca jalamujvalasayah || 80 || astadha matigunairalankrtah so'stadha madavidhanavarjitah | astatheti jinapujanam vyadhadastatha'pi nijakarma himsitum | | 81 | | adinathajagatijinanatha saisa sanghajanatasamanvitah | candanasnapanacarcanarcanaih kotisi'pi samabhavayatkramat || 82 || tena cinavasanairmahadhvajah kalpyate sma jinamandiropari | svargamarga iva dehinam karaprapya eva divi yo vyarajayata || 83 || preksanaksanamatho vicaksanastirtha bharturayamagrato vyadhat | nartakikucatatatrutamanisragmaniprakarapunjitavani || 84 || adinathamatha moktumaksamah sannidhim piturivasya samgharatra sesatirtha parisadvivam disaduyamanahrdayo vyajijnapat || 88 || anandasruvimisranetrayugalo baddanjalih samprati ksiptva tvatpadapankajopari sirah svavyekamabhyarthaye | cettavam bandhurakarano'si karuna cedasti te cetasi svam visdhaikanamasya deva ! mama taddeyah punardarsanam | | 86 ||

252 158) 159) 160) ittham gadaya gira prabhupadanaprccaya varddhapanam sangitena kapardinasca purato nirmaya nirmayadhih | arthibhyah sutaram dhanani vitaransanghadhinathah svayam sanghenatha samam girerudataratpunyasriya'lankrtah || 60 ||