Part 9: Padmaprabha’s samavasaraṇa

The Indras of the gods and asuras made there a samavasaraṇa, and the Lord of the Three Worlds entered it by the east door. The Supreme Lord circumambulated the caitya-tree, a kos and a half high, just as Indra did him. Praise being pronounced aloud with the words, “Homage to the congregation,” the Lord sat on the jeweled lion-throne, facing the east. By means of his power the gods made images of the Lord, which did not differ in the least from his form, in the other directions also. The holy fourfold congregation occupied the proper places in the samavasaraṇa, their heads erect from longing for the Master, like peacocks longing for a cloud.

Then the Indra of Saudharmakalpa bowed to the Supreme Lord and praised him with evident devotion in a speech which was the essence of truth.

Stuti:

“Defeating the army of trials, putting to flight attacks, you have arrived at the happiness of tranquillity. There is a certain skill of the great. You are free from passion, having experienced freedom from greed; you are free from hostility, having destroyed dislikes. Indeed, of the noble-minded there is a certain power hard for people to attain. By you always free from desire, afraid of sin, the three worlds have been conquered. There is a certain cleverness of the great. Nothing has been given to any one; nothing has been received from any one. Nevertheless, you have this power. There is a certain art of the wise. Fortune which is not gained by others even by the gift of the body falls at the foot-stool of you who are indifferent, O Lord. This great sovereignty has been attained by you cruel toward love, etc., compassionate toward all souls, possessing terrible and beautiful attributes. Great among even the very great, worthy to be honored even among the noble-minded, indeed! the Master has come within the sphere of a hymn of praise from me praising. All the faults without exception are in others; but in yon all the virtues. If this hymn of praise of mine to you is to no purpose, the people present are authority for that statement. I do not hope for any other nirvāṇa even, O Lord of the World, thinking, ‘May I have the sight of you, again and again.’”