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226 KURESA OBTAINS SALVATION. CH. XXXV.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE SAtiVATION OF KURESA.
Tradition horo t.ikes up tlie fmi.sUing epi.sodes in the life
of Hie mcst exemplary disciple and martyr Sri KiiifiSa. It i.s
said that liis figure forms the alto-relievo in the Life of llamA,-
nuja, and his exit from the world's stage takes 2ilace in advanoa
of that of hi.s revered Ma.ster. Sil (i^nianuja as will appear in
the sequel.
Bsimanuja must have been about 110 years and even more
by this time. As redoubtable as he was in his cfiampionship of
Vaishnavisrn, he was in his strength and zeal unfl:igging. A
recluse, in quiet seclusion, lie was importing to his hosts of
disciples the quintessence of flie doctrines it was his mis.sion to
propagate. One day, Kurfesa went to visit Lord RaiiganfLHia
all by himself. " Thou seenist as if thou hast sometliing in
thy heart to tell me," said the Lord. Kur6?a broke out into
praise which took (he shape of a splendid Sanskrit verse,
gifted poet as he was—whicli he explained at great leno-th
by his own commentaries. The Lord was so pleased as to
press Kuresa to ask any favour of him. But Kurfesa humblv
Said that he had every favour bestowed on him ; there was
nothing more to ask.
'"
No," said the Lord, " once more ask
and ask for more, if not for thee, for the love that I bear to my
beloved Spouse, Sri, and love for my Ramftnuja. Kurfisa
submitted his wish that he be released from the prison of
the body, and be gathered to His Feet. " Ask some other
thing than that," the Lord said; but KiirSSa declared
that he could think of nothing else.' "Let it be so then"
the Lord said ;
" what thou askest shall not only be boon
for thee, but a boon conferred on every one that has any sort
of relation with thee." KiirfiSa, receiving this messao-e.
walked out from the sanctum in all tJie dignity and glory of a
crown-prince, soou destined to occupy the throne in the Kincdom
of Parama-pada
;
and instead of going to his own hou.se
sped beyond the outermost rampart of the Temple and took
' ^nw(?euem(SLD,xn-iMQwairLL®iisi^^. [2nd T. Andddi, 92]