Part 19: Return to Hastināpura

As Bakulamati said this, Sanatkumāra came from the pleasure-house like an elephant from a pool. Attended by Vidyādharas he went then to Mt. Vaitāḍhya with Mahendrasiṃha, like Indra to Sumeru. He passed the time, endowed with great magnificence. One day, Mahendrasiṃha made this suitable declaration to him: “Master, my mind rejoices very greatly at this magnificence of yours. Your parents are unhappy, grieved at separation from you, recalling you constantly. Devoted to their son, I think your parents look at every one resembling them with the thought. ‘That is Sanatkumāra; that is Mahendra.’ So be gracious. Let us go to the city Hastināpura. Give joy to your parents like the moon to the ocean.”

When his friend had made this explanation, Sanatkumāra, a thunderbolt to the mountain of enemies, went eagerly to the city Hastināpura at once, together with his wives and friends, attended by hundreds of Vidyādhara-lords with armies, making the sky appear to have various suns by shining aerial cars, his umbrella carried by some Vidyādharas, his chauris waved by some, his slippers carried by others, a palm-leaf fan and staff being held by some; his betel-box being carried by others; the road being described by some, diversions being shown by others, his virtues being praised by others—some of them mounted on elephants and some on horses, some in chariots and some on foot, going through the air.

He rejoiced his parents there, afflicted by sorrow, and the citizens by the sight of himself, as a cloud rejoices people suffering from the heat of summer. King Aśvasena, delighted at heart, established Sanatkumāra in his kingdom and Mahendrasiṃha as his general. The king accomplished his own purpose when he had taken initiation in the presence of the elders in the congregation of the Tīrthakṛt, Śrī Dharma.