which you saw the vast multitude surrounding the Banner of Indra, and carrying it forth from the city gate, signifies that the prince, your son, will soon give up his present condition, and, surrounded by innumerable Devas, proceed from the city and become a recluse. This is the interpretation of your first dream. "Again, when the Mahârâja dreamt that he saw the prince riding in a chariot drawn by ten mighty elephants, proceeding from the South gate of the city, this signifies that the prince, having left his home, will forthwith attain to the knowledge of all things (Sarvadjña or Sarvasandjña) and the ten powers of mind (Dasabalas). This is the interpretation of the second dream. 66 Again, when your Majesty dreamt that you saw the Royal Prince driving in a four-horsed chariot, and proceeding through the West gate of the city; this signifies that the prince having left his home and attained the perfect knowledge before-named, he shall likewise arrive at the condition of perfect fearlessness.1 66 'Again, when your Majesty dreamt that you beheld a richlyjewelled discus proceed through the North gate of the city, this signified that the prince, having left his home and attained perfect enlightenment, would turn the precious wheel of the perfect Law for the good of gods and men. This is the interpretation of the fourth dream. "Again, when the King saw in his dreams the prince sitting in the midst of the four highways of Kapilavastu beating a mighty drum with a mace held in his hand; this signified that the prince having attained to the condition of Bôdhi, and begun to turn the wheel of the Law, that the sound of his preaching should extend through the Highest Heavens (the Heavens of Brahma) even as the sound of the drum is heard through the inferior worlds. This is the interpretation of the fifth dream. "Again, when your Majesty dreamt that you saw in Kapilavastu 1 The four intrepidities, Vaisaradyas, vide Lotus, p. 346. This is the interpretation of the third dream. 2 This dream corresponds to the Avadâna, translated by Stas. Julien, “Le Roi et le grand tambour,” Les Avadànas, vol. i, p. 1. he first dream, w the prince riding w the Royal Prince through the West ving left his home ed, he shall like5.1 beheld a richlyof the city, this attained perfect the perfect Law pretation of the prince sitting in ating a mighty that the prince gun to turn the ; should extend rahma) even as worlds. This in Kapilavastu 5, p. 346. This slated by Stas. wisdom, will scatter the precious gems direction for the sake of Devas and me: creatures. This is the interpretation of 'Again, when your Majesty beheld th Kapilavastu weeping and lamenting an signifies the misery and distress of th whom the prince after his enlightenmen pose; to wit, Pourna Kasyapa, Mava Kimbala, Parbata Katyayana, Sanjipay thajatiputra. This is the interpretation Thus T'so-Ping, the Devaputra, havi of Suddhôdana Râja, he further address râja! your heart should be filled with joy truth these dreams are of the most feli your heart then, and let there be no n Thus speaking, he suddenly disappeared, Then the King, having heard these w yet more the enticements to sensual in the prince; hoping thus to prevent hi world. And so the prince still remained in the passions, without any reflection. Seeing the Sick Man on § 2. Now, then, the Devaputra, T'so-Ping himself thus- -"This Prabhâpâla Bôdhi living within his palace indulging himse ment, giving rein to his passions, whils I must arouse him by some spiritual mani reflected; he caused the prince, whilst s suddenly to conceive a desire to make a through the gardens without (the city). having received his instructions, he forthwith sent the intelligence to Suddhôdana Râja, who issued similar instructions throughout the city for the decoration and cleansing of the streets and highways, and the ornamentation of the trees of the garden. Then the coachman, having prepared a magnificent chariot, approached the prince and said, "The chariot is even now ready, and awaiting your orders." Then the prince, mounting into the chariot, took his seat with the dignity and appearance of a king, and proceeded through the South gate of the city, and slowly advanced towards the gardens without. At this time T'so-Ping Devaputra caused to appear in the way, just before the prince, a sick and pain-worn man, with cramped limbs and swollen belly, giving evidence of agonising suffering, pale and miserable, scarcely able to draw his breath, every now and then lying down in the dirt through exhaustion: till at last, unable to rise through weakness, he exclaimed with much difficulty in suppliant tones-" Oh! I humbly intreat you, raise me up to sit upon the road." Then the prince, seeing this wretched object and hearing his intreaty, immediately addressed his coachman and said, "Who or what is this unhappy being? his breath like the steaming of a caldron, his body emaciated and wan, his skin yellow as parchment, and as he goes groaning and sighing 'Ah me! what pain!' and again, Alas! alas! pity, master! pity!' Indeed I cannot bear to hear such misery, I will go to raise him up." Then the Devaputra, T'so-Ping, inspired the coachman to answer thus-"Holy youth! listen to me; this is a sick man." Then the prince rejoined, "And what does that signify ?" The coachman replied and said, "Sacred Prince! this man's body is unsound and deprived of all vital power and grace; his limbs cramped and helpless; sighing for death; without refuge or protection; father and mother both forgotten-no one to sympathise with him; in this plight, daily looking for death, he still endures his misery, without help, without remedy! For this rea 6 The coachman replied to the princeThe four elements ill-adjusted, therefo Again the prince inquired, "Is this sic before us, or is it common to men genera man replied, "It is not restricted to this men alike are unable to avoid this mis some day be sick?" asked the prince; fear, what anxiety?" And again he sai charioteer! then I feel in no temper to g the beauty of the trees and flowers; tu the palace." The coachman replied, “I commands." Then the prince, having sat pensively and sadly reflecting on the he also must some day be reduced by of the man he had seen. Then Suddhôdana Râja inquired of th prince had enjoyed his visit to the garde charioteer explained the circumstance w sorrow and grief of the King, who rec and in consequence he resolved to increa ments to pleasure within the palace of Gâthas say "The Prince Royal, for a long time dv After a time desired to go forth to himself. In the way he saw a sick man, lean a Which caused him to loathe the thou Sitting still he reflected on this mise What joy can I have, seeing I cannot Dissatisfied with the pleasures of sen Though possessed of the most lavish Such happiness and incomparable fel From his former good deeds and virt Thus, then, the prince lived within night and day, in the pursuit of sensuous himself as he beheld the prince thus engaged in self-indulg and pleasure—"How can I best stir up this Prabhâpâla B satwa, to leave these foolish pleasures and become a Recluse.” so he again caused the prince to long to go forth from his pa and visit the gardens beyond the city. Whereupon the pr calling his charioteer, addressed him as before, who on his forthwith reported the matter to Suddhôdana Râja. Then same preparations and precautions having been adopted, the pr went forth. Then the Devaputra caused to appear before prince as he rode onwards, a corpse lying on a bier in the r Then he saw the people lift up the bier and carry it along, s were spreading over it every kind of coloured grass (?), whils the right and left were weeping women, tearing their hair beating their breasts with grief; others striking their heads ac either arm; others throwing dust on their heads; others wai and lamenting and weeping drops fast as rain, such sad and bi cries as could seldom be heard! The prince, witnessing this scene, his heart was overwhel with sorrow, and turning to his coachman he asked him, "Resp able coachman! who is this lying thus on his bed, covered w strangely-coloured garments, his head wrapped up, and surroun by people lamenting and weeping as he is carried onwards ?"the words of the Gâtha "The gracefully-formed and ruddy prince Asked his respectable coachman, 'Who is this Lying upon the bed borne on the four sides by men, دو And surrounded by friends weeping and lamenting ?'' Then T'so-Ping Devaputra by his supernatural power caused t coachman to answer thus-"Most holy prince! this is called dead body (or a corpsel laid out)." "And what is a dead body inquired the prince. To which the coachman answered, "Gre prince! this person has now done with life; he has no furth beauty of appearance, or desire; he is one with the stones and t wood, just as the dead wall or a fallen leaf; no more shall he see fath |