Part 7: Ara’s omniscience

The Lord wandered over the earth for three years as an ordinary ascetic, never seated, never lying down, observing many restrictions. One day, as he wandered, the Lord came again to Sahasrāmravaṇa and stood in pratimā under a mango tree. The Lord’s omniscience arose from the destruction of the destructive karmas on the twelfth day of the bright half of Kārttika, the moon being in Revatī. At once the gods made a samavasaraṇa and the Teacher of the World entered by the east door. The Lord circumambulated the caitya-tree, which was three hundred and sixty bows tall, and said, “Reverence to the congregation.” The Lord sat down on the eastern lion-throne, facing the east, and the Vyantaras created images in the other directions. The venerable congregation occupied the proper places. When he knew that the Lord was in the samavasaraṇa, the scion of the Kurus came there.

After bowing to the Blessed One, he sat down behind Śakra and then Śakra and the scion of the Kurus began a hymn of praise.

Stuti:

“Hail! Lord of the Three Worlds. Hail! Sole friend to everyone. Hail! Ocean of Compassion. Hail! Thou adorned with supernatural powers! Always there is illumination of the universe by the unfailing rays of the sun; there is removal of heat from the universe by the moonlight of the moon; there is enlivening of the world by the waters of the rainy season-cloud, refreshing of the world by the blowing of the wind. Just as there is no ulterior motive in this, so hail to your practices for the benefit of the three worlds, Supreme Lord. The world was dark or blind; but now it has been made light or to have eyes by you. Henceforth, the road will be free from hells, Lord, and existence in animal-births will be very slight. The heavens will be near people, like the interior of border-villages, and emancipation will be not too far away. While you are wandering over this earth for the benefit of all, what happiness will not be, even though inconceivable?”