Canto 12 - Description of Mount Raivataka

[Full title: English translation of the Vasantavilasa, Canto 12: Description of Mount Raivataka]

[The twelfth Canto describes Mount Raivataka, at the foot of which Vastupala had halted. There was a city called Tejapalapura and a lake 'Kusumasara' both built by Vastupala's brother Tejapala. Vastupala and all the pilgrims worshipped there Parsavanatha. ] Then Vastupala, moon-like Minister of King Viradhavala of the Chaulukya dynasty went near mount Raivataka and with immense pleasure looked at it for a very long time, 172 There were many water-currents flowing from the mountain, they were falling on the edges of rocks and were becoming shattered to drops. These water-drops were being sprinkled everywhere. It appeared like consecration by sprinkling being made of the place which was tainted by the Kaliyuga. 173 At the foot of the mountain, all kinds of animals and birds were living happily. Because of the influence of Jinapati, they had even given up their innate enmity. Thus there lived together, the deer and the tiger, the serpent and the mongoose, the elephant and the lion as well as the rat and the cat. 174 The place had become crowded by all type of people who had come to worship Jinapati.

194 When Vastupala was thus looking at the mountain, a Vaitalika began to sing the glories of the mountain. He narrated :- "Having seen elsewhere animals being brought and killed for food.. Jinadhipa, Neminatha, became disgusted with the worldly affairs and resorted to this mountain which was like the only step towards universal welfare. Here all the six seasons together continuously offer worship to Neminatha; because the wise do not believe in doing anything by rotation in matters of gaining religious merit, as the wealth is always fickle-minded. People desirous of worshiping Sri Neminatha, the ruler of all the three worlds, always dwell here at this foot of the mountain and obtain a place even above than the abode of Gods. 175 "Here there is a city built by your Majesty's brother Tejapala and hence it is called Tejapalapura. There is also a temple of Parsvanatha. The same your brother has also dug a lake named 'Kumarasara' " 176 Minister Vastupala having heard all this from the Vaitalika, performed the worship of Parsvanatha accompanied by the entire caravan of pilgrims. 1

Footnotes for Canto 12:

1 172) 173) 174) 175) 176) atha krtasukrtaculukyabhartuh sacivasacipatirunmisapramodah | girivaramupasrtya raivatakhyam ruciramamum cirakalamaluloke || 1 || katakatasilanipatacurni bhavadurunirjharasikarotkarena | kaliyugamaline nitantamabhyuksanamiva bhumitale'khile ksipantam ||3 || jinapatimahimaprasantavairavyasanataya ciramenacitrakena | visadharanakulena hastisimhena ca krsauhrdamundirautuna ca || 6 || rajimatipaninipidanodyame vilokya bhojyarthamupahrtanpasun | samsaranirvinnamana jinadhipah sirvaikasopamivainamasadat || 43 | | iha prasunairrtavo nirantaram sadapyupastim racayanti neminah | paryayavrttirna mata manisinam dharmarjane sririyamatvari yatah || 44 || srineminathasya jagatrayisituh sevasu hevakitacittavrttibhih | upatyakamusya narairnirantaram niciyate kinca surairadhityaka || 45 || kailasasya yathalaka'calapaterasyopakanathavani muktajalavisalasalavalayam devanujah svakhyaya | tejahpalapuram puram viracayancakre yadantahsthitam caityam parsvajinasya nayakamanipuragalbhyamabhyasyati || 48 ||

177) 257 tire'syaiva kumaradevijanananisreyahkrte'karayat kasaram sukrtai kasara ! bhavatah sreyansa evanujah | yadvarini nipiya pankajarajoharini dhunvan sirah slagham sanghajanah karoti mudito yasyadito janmanah || 46 ||