Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words

This page describes Childhood of Vijaya and Dviprishtha which is the fifteenth part of chapter II of the English translation of the Vasupujya-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Vasupujya in jainism is one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Part 15: Childhood of Vijaya and Dvipṛṣṭha

Five nurses with five (different) tasks[1] cared for him, like ascetic maidens caring for an aśoka that has sprung up in the courtyard. The nurses were not able to catch him as he ran and jumped, going at will, lively as quicksilver. The second Hari grew up, showing his heart daily to father, mother, and elder brother. Vijaya carried him frequently on his hip, heart, back, and shoulder, like a sixth nurse, from love. Dvipṛṣṭha stood, walked, slept, sat down, ate, drank, in imitation of Vijaya, drawn by the charm of affection. At their father’s command which was not to be transgressed, Sīrin and Śārṅgin acquired the arts easily by means of a teacher at the right time. The brothers, fair and dark, looked like the Ocean of Milk and the Salt Ocean incarnate, whose depths had not been reached. Wearing dark blue and yellow garments, with palm tree- and garuḍa-banners, the boys did not consider at all Tāraka’s command.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See II, n. m.

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