Part 4: Birth-rites of Suvidhi

Then the fifty-six Dikkumārīs, Bhogaṅkarā and others, performed the birth-rites of the Lord and his mother. Then the Lord of Saudharma, like an Ābhiyogya-god, took the Master with devotion and went to the top of Mt. Meru. Holding the Lord on his lap, Śakra seated himself on the lion-throne on Atipāṇḍukambalā to the south of Meru’s crest. Then the sixty-three Indras, Acyuta, etc., with unfailing devotion bathed the Master with water from the tīrthas. Then the Lord of Saudharma handed the Lord to the Lord of Īśāna, like a guard handing an object to be guarded to (another) guard at the end of his watch. Śakra bathed the Master seated on Īśāna’s lap with fragrant water from the bulls’ horns.

After Vāsava had made anointment with new unguents and worship with ornaments, etc., and had waved the light, he praised the Ford.

Stuti:

“Firm pillar of the house of dharma, pool of nectar of right belief, cloud for the delight of the world, hail! Lord of Three Worlds. What other supernatural power of yours shall we tell, since the three worlds, bought by virtues and greatness, enter servitude (to you)? I do not shine in heaven as much as I shine in servitude to you. A jewel does not shine as much in a mountain, as it shines in an anklet. You, wishing to go to mokṣa, came from Vaijayanta which terminates in mokṣa, certainly to show the path to the world that had wandered from the path. After a long time you are the divinity of the house of Bharatakṣetra; now let dharma, like a householder, rejoice fearlessly in it. O Lord of the Universe, let all this throng of gods come to the incarnation of this supernatural form of yours. After a long time, O Lord, eyes have become cakoras by good fortune, clinging eagerly to you who have a stream of light that is like moonlight. May I, staying in the house or going to the council, recollect the charm of your name which gives Sarvārthasiddhi.”

After this hymn of praise to the Lord of Jinas, Śakra took him, carried him, and placed him at Rady Rāmā’s side according to custom.