ER XXIII visits Rajagriha. assed the night in this place, at the ad no alms-bowl (Patra) in which hout the city, seeing the incom- the origin of the word pátra, an from every part the people came engagements, they forgot all, and to pay him honour, filled with im time, Bodhisatwa was in the freshne since the time of his leaving his palac formed on his forehead, between his was constantly emitted a flood of lig were so admirably proportioned, an fully connected together, as by a net pearance was enough to convert an And so the Gâtha says 66 Bôdhisatwa, moving along th All their hearts were filled w Thus, surrounded by a vast crowd onwards, his body perfectly erect, his garments all strictly arranged. streets, those who were engaged i who were drinking in the wine sho and were wrapped in awe as they b him on his course. So, also, countless women in the the corners of the door-posts, fro conies, and tops of the houses; an 1 Siva Tri or Shaman ?" At this time, the King of Magadha, who reigned at Râjag named Bimbasara, of the family Srenika.1 Now this mon fore obtaining the kingdom, had made five earnest vow were these:-1. May I obtain the Royal dignity early 2. May there be born a Buddha during my reign. 3. M permitted to see him and give him charity. 4. May I h preach. 5. May I arrive at the knowledge of the Law. At this time, Bimbasara Râja was on the top of the ci surrounded by his ministers; as he sat there, lo! afar off Bôdhisatwa, accompanied by the crowd as he went, advan wards the city with dignified pace. Seeing him thus, hi was filled with doubt; and so, descending from the tower, b forth from the gate, and approached Bodhisatwa, whose bo glorious as the stars that shine in space throughout the da of the night, or as the brightness of the Mani gem. The then addressed his ministers, and said, "Never since I wa have I seen such a perfectly beautiful and dignified person a Go forward, my lords, and inquire who he is, and wher comes, and what his name?" Then some said, it is Devarâja, others it is Sâkra, others Mahânâgarâja, others it is Vemachitra Asura Râja, other Bala Asura Râja, others it is Vaisravana Râja, the protector world; others it is Suryadeva, others said it is Chandra others Maheshwara, others Brahmadeva, whilst one of the ministers declared it was no other than a Chakravarti Râja. at length one of the councillors explained the whole circums of Bodhisatwa's birth at Kapilavastu, and the horoscope tha been cast, and declared that this stranger approaching the could be no other than he. Then Bimbasara thought, "this is nothing more than th complishment of my vow;" and so forthwith he commanded of his attendant ministers to go watch where Bôdhisatwa fi 1 Lal. Vist. 229, n. >joy-givin ily does he belong to? Is he Brahman Magadha, who reigned at Râjagriha was as he sat there, lo! afar off he saw a, others it is Sâkra, others it is a nachitra Asura Raja, others it is isravana Raja, the protector of the others said it is Chandradeva, madeva, whilst one of the wise r than a Chakravarti Raja. But xplained the whole circumstance astu, and the horoscope that had stranger approaching the city is nothing more than the aco forthwith he commanded two atch where Bôdhisatwa finally 229, n. seeing the vast multitude of the pe▪ of the city, began to reflect within without any means of salvation, wi constantly tossed on the sea of life with no fear or care about their u to guide them or instruct them; and unable to escape from the net o Thinking thus, his heart was mo self strengthened in his resolution salvation for the world. Thus, proceeding slowly throug before him, and his body erect, he house, after which he returned to I in the shade beside a running four After having washed his hands an tain, and looking to the south, he s with his face to the east, he sat d rounded by the birds who flew from that carpeted the earth; whilst his shone forth like the sun in his glory "Surrounded by the fragrant t Seated thus beneath the tree, h learn even more thoroughly the va Jantu, Manushya, Manava, that the all phenomena are false and illusor Meantime, the two messengers lowed Bodhisatwa to the spot w minister approached to within a 1 sat down. Meantime, the other r him that Bodhisatwa was seated o Pandava. Then the king, mounting his chariot, proceeded towards the place, and soon arriving there, he beheld Bôdhisatwa seated as we have said, his body bright as the stars that shine through the dark night, or as the fire that burns on the top of some hill, or the lightning that gleams from the cloud. Then the king's heart was filled with reverence and awe, as he saluted him with much respect. And so the Gâtha says “The king, seeing Bôdhisatwa glorious as Sâkrarâja, His body bright and shining; his heart filled with joy; Then Bodhisatwa, with a voice soft and sweet as that of Mahâ Brahma, returned the salutation of the king, and wished him all happiness and prosperity, as he asked him further the purpose of his visit, and invited him to be seated. Then Bimbasara Râja proceeded to seat himself on a large stone near to Bôdhisatwa and addressed him thus—“ Respectable sir! I have some doubts in my mind-would that you would solve them for me, if it be not troublesome to ask you so to do! In the first place, who or what are you?—are you a God, or a Nâga, or Brahma, or Sâkra, or a man, or a spirit ?" Then Bodhisatwa, having entirely got rid of all crooked ways, answered plainly and truthfully, "Maharâja! I am no god, or spirit, but a plain man, seeking for rest, and so am practising the rules of an ascetic life." Then the king rejoined-"But why are you thus living when your youth and your beauty would entitle you to the enjoyment of all the pleasures which men hold so dear. "Your body, bright as sandal-wood, You should not wear this Kashya robe, Your hands fit to control the wills of men, Bimbasara then proceeds to urge Bôdhisatwa to give up his purpose, to share the kingdom of Magadha with him, and indulge in the pleasures of life. Then Bôdhisatwa, unmoved by anything the king had șaid, per at burns on the top of some hill, or the the cloud. Then the king's heart was , as he saluted him with much respect. isatwa glorious as Sâkrarâja, hining; his heart filled with joy; ished him the four compliments, dom from pain and care." oice soft and sweet as that of Maha ion of the king, and wished him all he asked him further the purpose of be seated. Then Bimbasara Raja a large stone near to Bodhisatwa espectable sir! I have some doubts ould solve them for me, if it be not o! In the first place, who or what Naga, or Brahma, or Sâkra, or a cirely got rid of all crooked ways, ly, “Maharaja! I am no god, or g for rest, and so am practising t why are you thus living when d entitle you to the enjoyment of so dear. sandal-wood, this Kashya robe, trol the wills of men, g that alms-dish.” O urge Bodhisatwa to give kingdom of Magadha with ures of life. thing the king had said, per like myself. The pleasures of wh illusory! They are as thieves an of an empty mind; the dreams who hates the truth. Even as the "The five pleasures are inco The six objects of sense are The inheritance of fools and But the sage! he alone has Bodhisatwa then proceed comparisons, and illustration his fixed and unchangeable of an ascetic, and seek for fi [Kiouen XXIII contains 6550 CHAPTER The argument with B IN the first part of this ch with his argument with B the folly of pursuing earthl evitable evils of death, and newed birth, are still undes the Gâthas used at intervals "Wounded by the arrows I desire only to find a las Supposing the palace of I would not covet it-mu |