ation to Return. che spring was just in its prime, it ng that Bodhisatwa was practising iled to suggest any method for proceeded to Uravilva, to the there first of all encountering asked of them saying, “Illushere Siddârtha abides ?" To a is practising austerities in quired and said, “And what had associated themselves 66 accede to such a request, and de wood. At length Udâyi compli on the ground; but how altered great cry, Udâyi exclaimed, “A and full of grace should ever c satwa, hearing these cries, dema Udâyi explained why he had c seek Nirvâna, and will have not some world;" and, he added, "n small as the mustard-seed if I e If indeed I die before the comple back my bones to Kapilavastu, man who died in the fixed prosed go tell my Royal Father that I truth, in my dreams the Devas within seven days I shall indee Go, then, Udâyi! return home, munication between us." Then arose and left the wood and re Suddhôdana Râja that his son w was alive; on this the king sa heart is filled with joy." The Conclusion § 2. Now during the six years' pe Marârâja Pisuna1 had come once to the commission of some sma so the Gâtha says 2 1 That is, "the Wicked Mâra. of the World of Pleasure (Kama with "Death." 2 These Gâthas are almost id Vist., p. 251. "To the east of the village of Uravilva, To subdue one's heart is difficult, Listen then to me, and give up the quest !' To whom Bodhisatwa replied in excellent words, The sounds of which were scarcely heard―(owing to his weakness), 'Pisuna! your attempts are vain! You seek only your own, as you wander to and fro! You speak of death! but what is that? I fear not death, nor the end of the world,' " etc., etc. Then Bôdhisatwa reflected thus-"It is because men seek continually their own things and their own profit that sorrows come; and what am I doing but this ?" And then he thought of the incident of the ploughing match, and how as he sat beneath the Djambu tree he enjoyed the bliss of Dhyâna; and he thought with himself "Why do I not now experience these joys ?" Then he resolved to strengthen his body by partaking of sufficient food, wheat and oil and milk, and also by bathing and caring for his health. Then Bodhisatwa addressed the Brahman, whose name was Deva,1 and said—" Great Brahman! I have resolved to break this long and trying penance, and partake of other food-wheat and honey, and oil and milk! prepare these things for me, I pray." 1 Deva was the niggard Brahman who had supplied Bôdhisatwa with the few grains of millet he ate daily. Vid. ante. Now Senayana had two daught Bala, both of them very beautiful ful days. These girls had long & lived at Kapilavastu, beneath t Suddhôdana, and Mâya, and their all this, they had besought their: graceful youth, the child of Suddl Then Senayana, having heard Bodhisatwa was coming to his his two daughters to prepare a oil, and milk and honey, and where the great Shaman is, and body, for thus perhaps you may and become the wives of that bea having received this intimation, the necessary food, and afterwa where Bodhisatwa was undergoin they bowed down their heads at h him, spake thus-"Illustrious and this offering of food at our han received the gift at the hands of t his desire. Then, taking the but his body, and afterwards using th as he purposed. Then his body, ground drinks up the rain, from t and his frame resumed its youthf And now Bodhisatwa, having two maidens thus-" My sisters! you have wrought a meritorious deed by thus ministering to my wants; tell me, then, have you any wish you would have fulfilled ?" On which they replied“Of old time we have heard of a certain beautiful Sâkya Prince, whose equal it would be hard to find; we would wish to become the wives of that prince." Then Bôdhisatwa answered-"My sisters, I am that Sâkya Prince! but I have vowed never again to participate in the five pleasures of sense for my object is to obtain supreme enlightenment, and to preach the insurpassable Law." To which the maidens replied—“If this be indeed the case, beyond all doubt you will obtain your end; when this is so, come, we pray you, to our house, that we may become followers of yours." On which Bodhisatwa said, "My sisters, it is well-it is well; your wish shall be accomplished." From that day forth these two maidens continued to bring food and water to Bôdhisatwa, until his body had once more resumed its wonted beauty. After this Bodhisatwa desired them no longer to bring him food. Now at this time a certain shepherd boy, having observed the invincible purpose of Bôdhisatwa in practising his penance, approached him, being filled with reverence and joy, and bowed before him and said, "Oh! virtuous and honourable sir! may I be permitted to make you some offerings of food." On obtaining the desired permission, he took of his goat's milk and offered it to Bôdhisatwa, and anointed his body therewith; whilst, cutting down some branches of the Nyagrodha tree, he wove a covering over the head of Bodhisatwa, as a shelter from the wind and the rain. Meantime, in virtue of the spiritual power of Bôdhisatwa, these branches took root, and bore flowers and leaves as they sheltered him. Now it came to pass that the five men, seeing Bôdhisatwa's altered mode of life, and his appearance of revived grace and health, thought with themselves that he had lost his power of Dhyâna, and also his purpose of attaining supreme wisdom; they were therefore incensed against him, and left him with many reproaches. After a time they came to Benares, and entering the deer-garden, they gave themselves up to severe contemplation. And so the Gâtha says "Those five Rishis practising severe penance, Seeing Bôdhisatwa partake of various kinds of food, to find; we would wish to become the Bodhisatwa answered-"My sisters, I have vowed never again to partici sense-for my object is to obtain to preach the insurpassable Law." -"If this be indeed the case, beyond end; when this is so, come, we pray become followers of yours." On sisters, it is well—it is well; your o maidens continued to bring food his body had once more resumed them no longer to bring him food. epherd boy, having observed the va in practising his penance, apreverence and joy, and bowed ous and honourable sir! may I be rings of food." On obtaining the goat's milk and offered it to Bôdtherewith; whilst, cutting down tree, he wove a covering over the from the wind and the rain. ual power of Bôdhisatwa, these ers and leaves as they sheltered five men, seeing Bôdhisatwa's pearance of revived grace and they wisdom; that he had lost his power of taining supreme im, and left him with many e to Benares, and entering the = up to severe contemplation. e penance, ous kinds of food, Now from the day when the d first given Bôdhisatwa the food scribed, through the whole of the his severe penance, she had eve bestowing charity on all the Bra who came to her door; and in e May the merit of this charitable Sâkya mendicant who is now unde may he in the end attain his earne Now the six years being over, month of spring-time, Bôdhisatwa right that I should continue thus the end of all, the perfection of shall I obtain fitting food for the and at the same time not unfit me Thus reflecting, a certain Deva Bôdhisatwa, went straight to the jata, and his two daughters, an your opportunity! Bôdhisatwa partaking of which he desires to o of supreme wisdom. 2 Ye, then, sl cream for the purpose of ministeri Then the two daughters of S heard the Devaputra's words, qui kine, and with their milk fed five milk fed two hundred and fifty of cows; taking the milk of these co some of the purest rice, these two lordly dish for Bôdhisatwa. Ther portents; every kind of appearan 1 But Sujata was given before a the village lord was called Nandil 2 Here again the expression der |