Part 5 - Birth of Camarendra

In that period, at that time, metropolis Camaracañcā was without an Indra, without a Priest. The aforesaid heretical monk Pūraṇa, having spent 12 years in the order of monks, enriched his soul by a month-long fast mssing [?missing?] in all sixty meals, and passed away, and was born as Indra in the Hall of Genesis in metropolis Camaracañcā.

The said Camara, the Indra of the Asuras, their king, just born, became enriched with five attainments, which were, attainment of food,... till of expression and of mind. When Camara, the Indra of the Asuras, their king, became enriched with the five attainments, thereon, by dint of his natural avadhi knowledge, he looked as far up... till Saudharma-kalpa, where he beheld Śakra, the Indra of the gods, their king, controller of mighty clouds, subduer of Pāka, performer of a hundred pratimās, with a thousand eyes, destroyer of the fortresses (towns) of the Asuras,...till shining in all the ten directions, seated on a throne named Śakra, in the best of palaces named Saudharmāvataṃsaka in Saudharma-kalpa,..still enjoying divine pleasures. Thereon this idea, noble, thoughtful and serious, came up in his mind:

Who is this fellow, covetous of an undesirable (death), with inauspicious marks, shameless and graceless, born on an incomplete fourteenth day¹², that takes his seat without hesitation above my head? I am in possession of a great divine fortune, a great divine glow, a great divine influence. I have acquired them and these are at my disposal. But how does he continue to live above my head enjoying all divine pleasures?

Having thought thus, he sent for the gods born in the Sāmānika Hall, and said unto them the following words:

Oh beloved of the gods! Who is this fellow, covetous of an undesirable,...till continues to live above my head enjoying all divine pleasures?

On hearing these words of Camara, the Indra of the Asuras, their king, (the Sāmānika gods) became delighted and pleased, folded their hands, moved them round their head, and then placed the folded palms with ten fingers on their head, hailed him by incessant shouts of victory, and made submission as follows:

Oh beloved of the gods! This is Śakra, the Indra of the gods, their king,... till continues to live enjoying divine pleasures.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

12. According to the lunar calendar in use in India, a day of the fortnight may be complete or incomplete. When it is incomplete, it takes some time from the previous day or the day following which means that portions of two days make one day. Such a day is considered inauspicious, since it is not complete in itself, but is made complete by taking some time from another day preceding or following. Most inauspicious is the day which becomes complete by taking some time from the previous day and some time from the day following so that, in consequence, three days touch one another. Ordinarily, the fourteenth day is particularly auspicious for birth when it is complete in itself; but when it is not complete in itself, and is touched by one day either side or by two days, it becomes very inauspicious for a child born on that day. Hence the use of the expression for Camarendra.