ns of a great man and the eighty inferior signs. On the day of birth the Brahmans calculated his horoscope, and this was the sult, that in view of the marks above named on his body, if he mained in secular life he would became a Chakravartin, and e over the four continents, possessed of all the insignia, of a iversal monarch; if he became a recluse that he would be a dda Tathagata Arahato Sammasambuddha, and possessed of e ten names peculiar to so great a Saint, etc." At this time ose two messengers returned immediately to Bimbasâra Râja, I narrated what they had heard just in the same words, and orted him at once to raise an army and destroy the child, lest should overturn the empire of the King.1 Then Bimbasâra, the ng of Mâgadha, replied at once, 'Respectable Sirs! speak not this way; for if, as you say, this youth is to become a Holy akravarti Râja and to wield a Righteous sceptre, then it becomes to reverence and obey him, in consideration of his spiritual ver and dignity, and so we shall obtain peace and joy under his e. If he becomes a Buddha, his love and compassion leading to deliver and save all flesh-then we ought to listen to his ching and become disciples. So that looking at each or either hese beneficent results, it is quite unnecessary to excite in my. any desire to destroy such a Being." The Gates around the Palace. At this time Suddhôdana Râja caused a wall to be constructed and the palace which the Prince Royal occupied, which wall only one gate to it; this gate (or wall) was named, "Ye Here is another of the singular coincidences of the narrative the Gospel History. The Thibetan books, moreover, tell us Bimbasara had, after a long conflict with the King of Anga, a obliged to pay a general tax to mark his subjection to the er. (Ass. Trans., xx, p. 47.) esses the thirty-two gns. On the day of ope, and this was the ed on his body, if he - Chakravartin, and Il the insignia of a hat he would be a , and possessed of etc." At this time o Bimbasâra Râja, e same words, and troy the child, lest en Bimbasâra, the le Sirs! speak not to become a Holy -e, then it becomes of his spiritual and joy under his mpassion leading to listen to his at each or either to excite in my. diate garden-precinct of the palace he bolt and bar that required three hundr the gate was opened the sound thereof of a krôsa; and then, again, in the very a similar gate that required two hund sound whereof could be heard at a dista three gates were guarded within and with morion and glaive, spear and bow (and other warlike weapons), to keep st palace. Such great preparations and take, lest his son should leave the all wander away to the wild mountain soli The voice from Space exho §5. At this time dwelling in space there Ping (make-pitcher). This Deva, havi for ten years dwelling in the palace & pleasure, began to consider and think Bôdhisatwa Mahâsatwa too long a tim worldly pleasures, dwelling in his palac enjoyments of sense. We must not per besot him, his mind and senses to be quickly! quick! flies the time. Prabh to recognise the just limits of such thi once to let them go and leave his house do not take some preparatory step in th to flee from these things, it will be too l recite some verses in praise of such a p strengthen him to action." On this De middle of the night, recited these verses "A man whose own body is bound wi Desires to release others from their 1 It is time now to give up your home, and to accomplish your Vows, etc." T'so-Ping, having uttered these Gâthas in the regions of space the purpose of exciting spiritual reflection, and stirring up the ince to cultivate the virtuous and meritorious principles which ere lying dormant in him, moreover caused the songs of the women the harem, instead of fostering lustful desires, rather to enurage thoughts of Nirvâna, and increase the prince's faith in it. ad at the same time, of their own accord, the following verses ere produced in exquisite tones : The things of the world are transitory Honour'd one! the time is come. It becomes you to leave your house and home! As a thing borrowed for a moment's use, As the inside of the plantain fruit (or tree) Shadowy as a madman's reflections; Or as the empty fist which deceives a child, So all things which exist (sanscara), And all that is produced in the sequence of cause and effect, And every individual substance Is the mere figment of the ignorant, lete, accomplish your Le regions of space md stirring up the ⇒ principles which ongs of the women res, rather to en rince's faith in it. e following verses So all relationships removed there is n At this time within the palace, wh began to play upon the instruments of above, being in fact pious utterances of instruments; all of them with a view the world and prepare his heart for Su The Excursions witho § 6. Now it came to pass that the Dev draw the prince out of his palace and garden certain sights which might ind tions of his present life,-to effect of the ladies who surrounded the prin to him. The sounds seemed to him Holy One listen! the grounds of the with choicest flowers and trees and every kind whose notes are delightful The prince, hearing these utteranceand thereupon he summoned his cha thus-"My good charioteer! draw f once a choice and fitting chariot, as I the lovely grounds of the surrounding The charioteer, so instructed, repli to your commands." Forthwith he sent the intelligence this communication-" Mahârâja! be Royal Prince desires now to go forth inspect the beautiful earth.” Then Suddhôdana caused to be provastu that all persons within and w roughly cleanse, sweep, and water th ds vessels full of water should be placed; moreover, that flowers ould be hung up and flags, etc., on the trees; that they should moreover, ornamented with jewels and choice stones of every scription. That, from all the trellis-worked lattices, bells should hung, made of silver and ornamented with jewels, which as e wind sighed might send forth a pleasing sound. Moreover, at images of Suryadeva and Chandradeva, decorated with every nament, should be placed, together with figures of the other vas, between the lattice rails; and also flags, chamaras, etc., ced in the immediate neighbourhood of these figures. In agreement with these commands the city of Kapilavastu s forthwith decorated as above, until it bore the appearance of fairy city of the Gandharvas. Moreover, the King commanded the garden to be swept and garhed in the saine way, The trees of the garden, moreover, which 1 male names were decorated with ornaments worn by men, ilst those that had female names were decorated with ornaments rn by women. Moreover, the King ordered it to be proclaimed throughout pilavastu by the sound of the drum and bell (gong)—“ All ye ople! remove from every part of the city and the highways atever can remind the Prince of old age, disease, or death; no blind man, or deaf or impotent person, be seen anywhere; nothing of an unlucky or sinister character anywhere meet eye of the Royal Prince!" orthwith, the charioteer prepared a delightful chariot, and harsed thereto a team of horses beautifully decorated, having done ch he proceeded to the presence of the Royal Prince and nounced that all things were ready for the tour of inspection ough the gardens. 'hen the prince arose from his seat, and proceeded to the place ere the chariot was awaiting him, and having ascended it, he umed the attitude and look becoming his exalted position, and ceeded forthwith through the eastern gate of the city wall, |