Part 1: Incarnation as Nalinagulma

In the (inhabited) half of Puṣkaravaradvīpa^[1] in the East Videhas in the province Kaccha there is a capital city named Kṣemā. Its king was Nalinagulma, always spotless because of his virtues, whose lotus-feet were rubbed by the crowns of kings. The master, the sole strong man in the world, powerful as Bahudanteya (Indra), as if with the idea, “May there be no imperfection in the realm,” made the ministers possessors of their enemies’ Śrīs^[2] attracted by the power of good counsel; made the kingdom resemble a kingdom of the gods, devoid of everything unfavorable; made fortresses that surpassed the cities of the Vidyādharas on Vaitāḍhya and treasuries devoted to humiliating the wealth of Śrīda; made an army that covered the surface of the earth with elephants, horses, infantry, and chariots, and had friends ploughing the fields of his enemies’ hearts.

Wise, his mind spotless from discernment, he recognized the worthlessness of the body, youth, and wealth, even the very best. He, pure-minded, passed a certain amount of time with the kingdom, like passing a day with poor food, or a night with a poor bed. When he had cured the disease of sovereignty with the herb of enlightenment about the Principles, he took initiation at the hands of Ṛṣi Vajradatta, his mind set on dharma. Free from worldly connections, he wandered, performing severe penance, enduring the trials,^[3] wearing away his body as well as karma. By the sthānas,^[4] devotion to the Arhats, et cetera, described in the scriptures, he acquired firm Tīrthakṛt-body-making karma. Practicing severe penance, engaged in pure meditation, devoted to the four refuges,^[5] he died in time and went to the heaven Mahāśukra.