1 The whole passage is in some disorder ; for the subject is she and the object is 'boy,' yet 'the Venerable Ascetic Mahd*
LIVES OF THE GIN AS.
seven and a half days, in the first month of summer,
in the second fortnight, the dark (fortnight) of
A^aitra, on its fourteenth day, [while all planets were
in their exaltations, the moon in her principal con-
junction, and the sky in all its directions clear,
bright, and pure ; while a favourable and agreeable
low wind swept the earth ; at the time when the
fields were green and all people glad and amusing
themselves] 1 in the middle of the night while the
moon was in conjunction with the asterism Uttara-
phalgurii (Trisali), perfectly healthy herself, gave
birth to a perfectly healthy boy. (96) 2
End of the Fourth Lecture.
In that night in which the Venerable Ascetic
Mahcivtra was born, there was a divine lustre ori-
ginated by many descending and ascending gods
and goddesses, and in the universe, resplendent with
one light, the conflux of gods occasioned great
confusion and noise. (97) 3
In that night in which the Venerable Ascetic Mahavlra was born, many demons in Vaisramawa's
vira ' is also put in the nominative. It seems that the author or the copyists added the three words Samae Bhagava/rc M ahavire because they usually followed the beginning : tenam kale^aw tea;;/ samae;ia#2. The same disorder occurs in all corresponding passages which we shall meet with later on.
1 The passage in brackets seems to be a later addition ; for it is wanting in my oldest MS., and the commentator says that it was not seen in many books. The occurrence of the astrological term exaltation (u/fca=ityo>/ia) in this passage proves it to be inserted after 300 A.D. For about that time Greek astrology had been intro- duced in India, as I have shown in my dissertation : De Astrologiae Indicae *Hora' appellatae originibus, Bonn, 1872.
2 Cf. JUdrShga Sfltra II, 15, 6. 8 Cf. JUMhga Sfttra II, 15, 7.
252 Kalpa
service belonging to the animal world, rained down
on the palace of king Siddhartha one great shower
of silver, gold, diamonds, clothes, ornaments, leaves,
flowers, fruits, seeds, garlands, perfumes, sandal,
powder, and riches. (98) 1
After the Bhavanapati, Vyantara, Gyotishka, and
Vaimanika gods had celebrated the feast of the
inauguration of the Ttrthakara's birthday, the Ksha-
triya Siddhdrtha called, at the break of the morning,
together the town policemen and addressed them
thus : (99)
' O beloved of the gods, quickly set free all
prisoners in the town of Ku^apura, increase
measures and weights, give order that the whole
town of Ku/zdapura with its suburbs be sprinkled
with water, swept, and smeared (with cowdung, &c.)
that in triangular places, in places where three or
four roads meet, in courtyards, in squares, and in
thoroughfares, the middle of the road and the path
along the shops be sprinkled, cleaned, and swept ;
that platforms be erected one above the other ; that
the town be decorated with variously coloured flags
and banners, and adorned with painted pavilions 2 ;
that the walls bear impressions in Gorfrsha, fresh
red sandal, and Dardara 3 of the hand with out-
stretched fingers ; that luck-foreboding vases be put
on the floor, and pots of the same kind be disposed
round every door and arch ; that big, round, and
long garlands, wreaths, and festoons be hung low
1 Cf. A^arahga Sfttra II, 15, 8.
2 According to the- commentary this may also be translated : smeared (with cowdung) and whitewashed.
5 Dardara is sandal brought from Dardara. All who have tra- velled in India will have noticed on walls the impressions of the hand mentioned in the text.
Lives of the Ginas. 2$$
and high ; that the town be furnished with offerings,
&c. (see 32, down to) smelling box; that players,
dancers, rope-dancers, wrestlers, boxers, jesters,
story-tellers, ballad-singers, actors l , messengers 2 ,
pole-dancers, fruit-mongers, bag-pipers, lute-players,
and many Tdl/aras 3 be present. Erect arid order
to erect thousands of pillars and poles, and report
on the execution of my orders.' (100)
When the family servants were thus spoken to by
king Siddhdrtha, they glad, pleased, and joyful, &c.
(see $ 58) accepted the words of command, saying,
4 Yes, master!'
Then they set free all prisoners, &c. (see 100,
down to) pillars and poles. Having done this, they
returned to king Siddhdrtha, and laying their hands
on their heads, reported on the execution of his
orders. (101)
The king Siddhartha then went to the hall for
gymnastic exercises, &c. (see 60 and 6i 4 ). (After
having bathed) the king accompanied by his whole
seraglio 4 , and adorned with flowers, scented robes,
garlands, and ornaments, held during ten days the
festival in celebration of the birth of a heir to his
kingdom ; (it was held) under the continuous din
and sound of trumpets, with great state and splen-
dour, with a great train of soldiers, vehicles, and
guests, under the sound, din, and noise of Conches,
1 LasakS bham/a
2 Arakshalds talM, khy&/ak& \&. The translation is conjectural.
3 Talaaras are those who bv clapping the hands beat the time during a performance of music.
4 The text has down to 'with his whole seraglio/ But as no such words occur in the passage in question, they seem to point to the description in 115, which contains the latter part of thia passage.
254 Kalpa
cymbals, drums, castanets, horns, small drums, kettle
drums, Mura^as, Mrz'dangas, and Dundubhis 1 , which
were accompanied at the same time by trumpets 2 .
The customs, taxes, and confiscations were released,
buying and* selling prohibited, no policemen were
allowed to enter houses, great and small fines were
remitted, and debts cancelled. Numberless excel-
lent actors performed 3 and many Tdla^aras were
present, drums sounded harmoniously, fresh gar-
lands and wreaths were seen everywhere, and the
whole population in the town and in the country
rejoiced and was in full glee. (102)
When the ten days of this festival were over, the
king Siddfc&rtha gave and ordered to be given
hundreds and thousands and hundred-thousands of
offerings to the gods, gifts, and portions (of goods);
he received and ordered to be received hundreds,
thousands, and hundred-thousands of presents. (iO3) 4
The parents of the Venerable Ascetic Mahdvlra
celebrated the birth of their heir on the first day, on
the third day they showed him the sun and the
moon, on the sixth day they observed the religious
vigil ; after the eleventh day, when the impure ope-
rations and ceremonies connected with the birth of
a child had been performed, and the twelfth day had
come, they prepared plenty of food, drink, spices,
and sweetmeats, invited their friends, relations, kins-
men, agnates, cognates, and followers, together with
the GrtcLtrtka, Kshatriyas. Then they bathed, made
1 Mura^as, Mridangas, Dundubhis are different kinds of drums. a Samaga-gramaga-turiya.
8 This is the translation of a varia lectio. The adopted text
has : while courtezans and excellent actors performed.
4 Cf. AJirdnga Sfitra II, 15, 1 1.
Lives of the 0inas. 255
offerings (to the house-gods), and performed auspi-
cious rites and expiatory acts, put on excellent,
lucky, pure court-dress, and adorned their persons
with small but costly ornaments. At dinner-time
they sat down on excellent, comfortable chairs in the
dining-hall, and together with their friends, relations,
kinsmen, agnates, cognates and followers, and with
the GnfariVa. Kshatriyas they partook, ate, tasted,
and interchanged (bits) of a large collation of food,
drink, spices, and sweetmeats. (104)
After dinner they went (to the meeting hall 1 ) after
having cleansed their mouths and washed ; when
perfectly clean, they regaled and honoured their
friends, &c. (see 104, down to) Gntrtkai Kshatriyas
with many flowers, clothes, perfumes, garlands, and
ornaments. Then they spoke thus to their friends,
&c.: (105)
' Formerly, O beloved of the gods, when we had
begotfen this our boy, the following personal, re-
flectional, desirable idea occurred to our mind :
" From the moment tfrat this our boy has been
begotten, our silver increased, our gold increased,
&c. (see 91, down to) Vardham&rta. Now our
wishes have been fulfilled, therefore shall the name
of our boy be Vardhamna."' (106, 107) 2
The Venerable Ascetic, Mahivlra belonged to the
K&syapa gotra. His three names have thus befen
recorded : by his parents he was called Vardhamdna ;
because he is devoid of love and hate, he is called
6Yama#a (i. e. Ascetic) ; because he stands fast in
midst of dangers and fears, patiently bears hard-
ships and calamities, adheres to the chosen rules of
1 This is an addition of the commentator. * Cf. A/tdr&nga Sfttra II, 15, 12.
256 KALPA S^TRA.
penance, is wise, indifferent to pleasure and pain,
rich in control, and gifted with fortitude, the name
Venerable Ascetic Mah&vira has been given him by
the gods. (loS) 1
The Venerable Ascetic Mahavlra's father belonged
to the Klryapa gotra ; he had three names : Siddhdr-
tha, ,5Yeyci#2sa, and G^sawsa, &c. (see A^r^lnga
Sfttra II, 15, 15, down to) .Seshavati and Ya^o-
vati. (109)
The Venerable Ascetic Mahdvira clever, with
the aspirations of a clever man, of great beauty, con-
trolling (his senses), lucky, and modest ; a Gii&tri
Kshatriya, the son of a Gntrz Kshatriya ; the
moon of the clan of the Gn&tris ; a Videha, the
son of Videhadatta, a native of Videha, a prince of
Videha had lived thirty years in Videha when his
parents went to the world ofthe gods (i. e. died),
and he with the permission of his elder brother and
the authorities ofthe kingdom 2 fulfilled his promise.
At that moment the Lauk^ntika gods, following the
established custom, praised and hymned him with
these- kind, pleasing, &c. (see 47, down to) sweet,
and soft words : (i 10)
* Victory, victory to thee, gladdener of the world !
Victory, victory to thee, lucky one ! Luck to thee,
bull of the best Kshatriyas ! Awake, reverend lord
of the world ! Establish the religion of the law
which benefits all living beings in the whole uni-
verse! It will bring supreme benefit to all living
beings in all the world!'
Thus they raised the shout of victory, (in)
1 See AA&rShga Sfitra II, 15, 15.
f Guru-mahattara is the original of the last words, which I have translated according to the explanation of the commentary.
Lives of the Ginas. 257
Before the Venerable Ascetic Mahdvlra had
adopted the life of a householder (i.e. before his
marriage) he possessed supreme, unlimited 1 , unim-
peded knowledge and intuition. The Venerable
Ascetic Mahvtra perceived with this his supreme
unlimited knowledge and intuition that the time
for his Renunciation 2 had come. He left his silver,
he left his gold, he left his riches, corn, majesty,
and kingdom ; his army, grain, treasure, storehouse,
town, seraglio, and subjects ; he quitted and rejected
his real, valuable property, such as riches, gold, pre-
cious stones, jewels, pearls, conches, stones, corals,
rubies, &c. ; he distributed presents through proper
persons, he distributed presents among indigent
persons, (iia) 3
In that period, in that age, in the first month of
winter, in the first fortnight, in the dark (fortnight)
of MSrgasiras, on its tenth day, when the shadow
had turned towards the east and the (first) Paurushl 4
was full and over, on the day called Suvrata, in the
Muhtirta called Vi,faya, in the palankin ATandra-
prabha, (Mah^vlra) was followed on his way 5 by
a train of gods, men, and Asuras, (and surrounded)
by a swarm of shell-blowers, proclaimers, pattivallas,
1 Abhogika. It is inferior to the Avadhi knowledge. In a quo- tation it is said that (the knowledge) of the Nairayikas, Devas, and Tlrthakaras does not reach the Avadhi ; it is total with them, but with others only partial.
a Nishkramaa==pravra^yd.
8 Cf. A^arShga Sfitra II, 15, 17.
4 YSma or time of three hours.
6 Samartugammam&*a-magge. The commentator divides sama~ migammam*am agge, and explains the passage thus : him who was followed by, Ac,, and surrounded by, &c. (agre parivrAam) they praised and hymned, and the authorities spoke thus to him.
258 Kalpa
courtiers, men carrying others on the back, heralds,
and bell bearers. They praised and hymned him
with these kind, pleasing, &c. (see 47, down to)
sweet and soft words: (113)
( Victory, victory to thee, gladdener of the world !
Victory to thee, lucky one I Luck to thee ! with undis-
tur&ed knowledge, intuition, and good conduct con-
quer the unconquered Senses ; defend the conquered
Law of the 6ramanas ; Majesty, conquering all ob-
stacles, live in Perfection ; put down with thy devo-
tion Love and Hate, the (dangerous) wrestlers ;
vigorously gird thy loins with constancy and over-
come the eight Karmans, our foes, with supreme,
pure meditation ; heedful raise the banner of content,
O Hero ! in the arena of the three worlds gain the
supreme, bqst knowledge, called Kevala, which is free
from obscurity ; obtain the pre-eminent highest rank
(i. e. final liberation) on that straight road which the
best <9inas have taught ; beat the army of obstacles !
Victory, victory to thee, bull of the best Kshatriyas !
Many days, many fortnights, many months, many
seasons, many half-years, many years be not afraid
of hardships and calamities, patiently bear dangers
and fears ; be free from obstacles in the practice of
the law !'
Thus they raised the shout of victory. (114)
Then the Venerable Ascetic Mah&vtra gazed on
by a circle of thousands of eyes *, praised by a circle
of thousands of mouths, extolled by a circle of thou-
sands of hearts, being the object of many thousands
of wishes, desired because of his splendour, beauty,
and virtues, pointed out by a circle of thousands of
