Canto 13 - Further details of Vastupala’s pilgrimage

[Full title: English translation of the Vasantavilasa, Canto 13: Description of Mount Raivataka]

[In the thirteenth Canto, further details of the pilgrimage are narrated. ] Minister Vastupala leader of the caravan of pilgrims worshipped Aditirthesa, the ornament of the city at the foot of the mount Raivataka and began to ascend the mountain with his caravan. When he ascended the mountain, the creepers on its peaks uttered their blessings through the humming of the bees and with their red shoots shaken by the tossing of the branches waived lights of welcome around him. Then Vastupala, the leader of the caravan approached the temple of Neminatha. It appeared that it was through its flag-like hand calling human beings to get their sins destroyed. In that temple Vastupala together with fellow-pilgrim saw with all humility Lord Neminatha, the Jinesvara. Having seen the Lord, he became overjoyed like a peacock on seeing the new cloud. His eyes were filled with drops of joy. He fell prostrate before the Lord and begin to praise the Lord who had been praised by both Gods and demons. 177 Having praised Lord Neminatha, he went with due respect round the temple and proceeded to take bath with his elders. And he bathed according to the rituals. Then he offered all kinds of worship to Lord Neminatha. A tall white flag made of china-silk was erected on the temple. It shone like the stream if Ganges on the snow land mount Himalaya. 178

196 Vastupala the leader of the caravan of pilgrims, together with all companions went all round and worshipped all those fit to be worshipped with holy bath and annointments. 179 Then Vastupala bowed down to the temple; heard the sermon of the preceptor with devotion and honured all the God's servants. 180 181 Thereafter, he went up the peaks having the temples of Ambika, Alokana, Samba and Pradyumna and worshipped all the deities there. There he performed a long ritual and thereby drove away all causes of sin. He sang songs in praise of the deities and by echoing those songs it appeared as if the mountain was singing glories of Minister Vastupala. 182 Vastupala's wife renounced all her ornaments and pounded them all to powder. And that powder was taken by the people to worship it in temples inside their houses. 183 When Vastupala climbed up the peak of the Jayantacala, people looked at the spot in the orb of the moon nearby him as if it is his own name written by him there, 184 At last, Vastupala had to climb down the mountain. He became over-powered by grief; his throat was choked; both the eyes were filled with tears. He begged the presiding deity to make him visit once again and descended from the mountain. At that time there was roaring of clouds. It

197 appeared as if the mountain presided over by Lord Neminatha said "May your path be comfortable while returning to your city. Do visit me once again."`185 The curious pilgrims of the caravan while descending the mountain, wrote praises of their pilgrimage together with their names on the touch-stone rocks with their gold rings. '186 While the caravan was proceeding through the avenues of thickly grown trees, even the Sun did not trouble the pilgrims with his burning rays. The girls in the caravan, on its way collected fruits, flowers and sprouts from the trees grown by the road and learnt about their names from those who knew them. 187 That huge caravan consisting of hosts of sanctified pilgrims having descended from the mountain of Lord Neminatha proceeded towards the Eastern Direction and it shone like River Ganges flowing from mount Himalaya. There were thousands of ascetics; there were thousands of Lords of communities. What to say? Who could know the number of pilgrims eager to have the sight of holy Jinas who had joined the caravan of Minister Vastupala ?. 188 The couples of hunters standing on the plateau of the mountain saw that caravan journeying on the roads below and began to speak among themselves "What is this ?." The forest-deities on the path of the caravan

198 saw Vastupala and began to ask in wonder: "Is he Indra? Is he the Sun ? Is he the Moon or the Cupid ?"189 Together with the echoes of the beatings of auspicious drums came out lions from the caves of the mountain. But mere sight of Vastupala drove them away as if beaten by rocks and hence they did not attack the caravan. Even the robbers became nervous and lost all their courage having seen Vastupala. So they also did not harm the pilgrims. Even the Sun appeared to be afraid of Vastupala. And therefore he did not cast his burning rays on the caravan when it was travelling under thickly grown trees. 190 At last after passing several villages, lakes, dwellings and towns, Minister Vastupala with his caravan of pilgrims reached the capital city of the Lord of Gujarat. On his arrival, the people decorated the whole of the city, Arches were erected at the doors of each house. Charming banners were hoisted on the tops of the buildings. Every street was besmeared with Kumkuma colours. Vastupala was immensely pleased on meeting his brother Tejapala. They rejoiced together as Indra with Visnu, Cupid with Spring and the Sun with the Dawn. With a blooming face, more pleasant than even the orb of the Moon, King Viradhavala came to receive Minister Vastupala. 191 Vastupala descended from his horse. When he bent low to offer his salutations to King Virdhavala, the King becoming overjoyed embraced him closely. Tejapala on his part, with his eyes filled with tears of joy quickly

199 bowed down to his elder brother, Vastupala. Vastupala, in retum embraced him and with horripilation on the body kissed him on his head. 192 Then King Virdhavala addressed to Minister Vastupala : "Dear one! I am sure there were no hindrances to you at holy places. You have returned safe after performing the pilgrimage as per your wish. O! you are hale and healthy. Entire caravan is also likewise full of comforts. Dear one ! were you not troubled on your way by thieves, robbers and wild beasts? Dear one! did all the deities of the pilgrim-places become graceful to you Please narrate in detail" 193 When Vastupala was thus addressed by King Viradhavala he replied :- "That I have returned safely and comfortably after finishing my pilgrimage is all, O Lord! because of your greatness and grace which has spread everywhere. How can wretched thieves create any trouble for the pilgrims ? Because in your regime they are not at all existing. How can the deities of the pilgrim-places not be graceful to me when I have been, on my return, addressed thus by your Majesty ? All the religious merit which I have earned by going on the pilgrimage to Somesvara and Damodar is all offered at your feet."194 Having heard these words of Vastupala, King Virdhavala became very much pleased. After honouring him suitably he sent him to his resting place. Vastupala on an auspicious day suggested by his preceptor took his bath and

200 together with his fellow-pilgrims entered with pomp and glory the capital city being seen by ladies of the city. 195 He performed special worships in the temples of Tirthankaras and made gifts to supplicants quite liberally as if he was the Kalpa-taru itself. The ladies of the city came to his mansion to bless him for pleasure and prosperity. There was a grand dinner in his mansion hosted by Vastupala to all fellow-pilgrims. He honoured them all and sent them away to their respective places. 196 Then Vastupala took back the reins of the kingdom handed over to his brother Tejapala.

Footnotes for Canto 13:

athaditirthe samupatyakapurivatamsamabhyarcya vasantasanjnitah | sanghadinatho gurusanghasamyutastam raivatam parvatamaruroha sah ||1|| girindramarudhavato'sya sanusu sthita dadatyo'livaih kilasisah | sakhabhujollasitapallavancalairniruncananiva lata vitenire || 2 || sanghesita nemijinesitustatah prasadamasadayati sma sadarah | balena yah ketukarena kalmasacchidartha makarayativa dehinah | | 3 | | tasminnasau sanghayuto jinesvaram srineminamanamamanamanasah | || vilokya kekina puri navambudam bheje mudam baspakadambite ksanah | | 4 || mahitalottam sitamaulimandalastato jinakhandalamenamadrtah | pranamya samyakavitagunah krti sa devadaityastutamastaviditi | | 5 | | tubhyam mahanandasarojabhasvate paretamoyogivilokitatmane | sri neminatha ! smaradarpadarine traidham trikalai kavide namo namah | | 6 | |

258 178) 179) 180) 181) 182) 183) 184) 185) mahadhvajo'rajata rajataprabhaih pattamsukaistena jinalayopari | vinirmito nirmita papaniskrtirgangapravaho himavadgiraviva || 16 || sanghadhipah sarvajanaih samam tatah samantatah snanavilepanarcanaih | sambhavya bhacyo'yamavandatam kramadatah kramastajagatigatarhatam || 17 | | guroh kramagre pagatah samikriyagurorayam puritavisvavanchitah | preksyam purastirthapateh sarasurapreksyam tatah karayati sma sanghayuk | 18 || ayam tato mangalaturyamandalapratisvanatrasitaduryugasmayah | prabheh purastaddhanasaradipakairaratrikam yatrikasattamo vyadhat || 16 || avaritam satramasutrayattatastatrabhitastrasitakalmasodayah | prito yadale kata eva gathakapratisvanairasya jagi yaso namah || 22 || rajimati yatra sati sutivrto vairagyatah svabharananyacurnayat | tanmrttikapindamathatmavesmano devalaye pujayitum jano'grahit || 24 | yadunjayantacalaculikagatah srivastupalo nikataprabarattini | svanama candre likhati sma nama tacchihnapadesadavalokyate janaih | | 25 | | athoccakairgadvadavagudasradrgyugah punardarsanadanayancaya | kathanciprcchaya sa tirthaparthivam gireh samam sanghajanairavatarat ||26 || panthah sivah syattava gacchato nijam purim punardarsanametadastviti | srine misailo'mbudagarjibhasaya vasantapalam samabhasataiva sah || 27 ||

259 186) 187) 188) 189) 190) samuttaransanghajano'tikautuki gireh kasasmapratimesu sanusu | lilekha hemormikaya prakasinim yatraprastim nijanamacihnitam ||28|| nirandhra sailadumamandalitalaprayayinam tam jinayatrikavrajam | pasparsa padairna tamopaharakrnmaha mahapapabhayadivaryama || 26 || phalani kascitkusumani kacidumavalinam kisalani ka api | vicitya tajnanatikautukena tannamanyaprcchanpathi sanghabalikah || 30 || sa pavani nemijinendraparvataduttirya purvabhimukhi prayayini | bhuripravaha pathi sanghadhorani reje himadreriva jahyukanyaka || 32 || parahsahasra yatayah parahsatah ganesitarah kimu va bravimahi | vasantasanghe jinadarsanatmana ko veda sankhyamapi kovidagranih ||33|| pulindrakanam yugalani parvataprasthoparisthani pathi prasrtvaram | vyalokayansanghamimam kimityaho hihiti bhasini bhayatparasparam ||37 || ayam kimindrah kimu va divakari nisakari va kusumakaro'pi va | vasantapalam krtavismaya iti vyalokayanvartmani vanyadevatah || 38 || puse nadanmangalaturyamandalapratisvanaih sailaguhavinihsrtah | drsadvikirna iva taprabhavatah sangha na simhah pathi yantamapatan | | 36||

260 191) 192) 193) vasantanamnah kila sanghabhubhrtah pratapasampadgalitoru vikramah | upadravam coraganascakara na prasahya sanghe girimargavartini || 40 | nirandhrasakhavitata'vaniruhamadhah prayantam najadhama lilaya | tatapa sangha nijatapasampada vasantabhityeva divakaro'pi na || 41 || gramakaradronamadambapattananyanekasah sanghavrsovilanghya sah | samastasanghena samanvitah samayayau pure gurjaranijiresituh || 43 || tasyayayau sammukha mullasanmukhaprabhaparabhutavibhavarivibhuh | sri virapurvi dhavalah ksitisvarah senarajonasvaradigvyavastitah || 46 || uttirya sanghadhipatisturangamadamusya yavatkurute namaskrtim | tavadaprasadollasitena bhubhujam drdham bhujabhyanupagudha eva sah ||48 | | sri tejapalah pramadasrupuriteksanah ksanadagrajamenamanamat | srivastupalah parirambhya tam punascucumba mauli visattanuruhah || 48 || tirthesu nirvighnamayi ! svakamyaya vidhaya yatram samupagato bhavan | ayadamarogyatamam vaputsava srisanghalokena samam samantatah | | 51 | | ayi ! kvacidvartmani tirthabhubhrtamayam na cauraiscaratairudrutah | na svapadaih siddipadaisinastava srisanghasanghatajano mahamate || 52 ||

261 194) 195) 196) ayi prasannastvayi tirthadevatah sarvepyajayanta nivedyatamadah | itirite viranrpena sadaram vasantapalastviti vacamucivan || 53 || tirthesu yatramadhisutrya sarvato nirvighnakamo yadihahamagamam | tatte vibhe | sasvadayam subhodayi padaprasadaprasaro vijrmbhate || 54 || caura ita vartmani tirthabhubhrtam kuryuh katham sanghajanesu vaisasam | yasmadusmistava deva ! sasane vijrmbhanane yadi santi te srutau || 55 || prasattibhajo mayi tirthadevata batatra sarvepyabhavankatham nahi | yadevamabhyagamanadibhibhasanapravrttimetam tvamasutrayah prabho ! || 56 || param ca yatpunyamuparjitam maya somesadamodaramukhyayatraya | tanmangalikyikrtameva deva ! te susvamine duspratikara ! sarvatha || 57 || gurupadistehani sanghanayakah snato yutah samghajanairanekasah | rdhdhya mahatya pravivesa tatpuram purandhrini randhrasamuhaviksitah || 60 || babhuva pakvannamanekadhai kathah sauvyanjana'smin rasavatyathanyatah | tambulapuspadirupaskarastathaikato 'nyatascamsukasamcayo mahan || 66 | atha prakamam pratilabhitavrtivrjo'tha sanghadhipatiryathavidhi | nimantraya bhaktyadarapurvamajamsa mahayasah sanghajananabhojayat | | 67 | | abhyarcayamasa ca puspadamabhih srikhandatambulasadamsakairapi | sa vastrapujam gurubhaktibhasito gurupadesad dyutimanapi vyadhat || 68 ||

262 anekamitradvijarajasanmunisrenigurubhyah kavimandalaya ca | srivastupali bahudha tadambaram visranayanvisvasrjo vyasisyata || 66 || pratyekamucairanuyayapurvakam sammanya sammanyakrtanjalih krti | stamstamsca samghanatha sanghaparthivo nijam nijam desamabhi vyasarjayat | |70 ||