towards the village of Uravilva, to beg his food. Arrived t at last came to the house of Nandika, the village lord, an stood silently before the principal door of the dwelling, a charity. Then Sujata, the daughter of the village lord, seeing Ba wa standing thus silently before the gate, immediately ser golden dish, and filling it up to the brim with the deliciou with her own hands came and presented it to Bôdhisatwa. I taken her place before him, she spake thus, “Would that n would accept from me this dish full of deliciously prepar milk." Then Bodhisatwa, seeing the character of the food, th thus with himself, "This is a token that I should henceforth after the true nectar (sweet dew) of the right law. I vow fro moment to deliver the world from the thraldom of death, the Wicked one. I will procure salvation for all men, and co them to the other shore." Then, having accepted the g Sujata, she likewise urged him to keep the golden dish. Bodhisatwa departed from Uravilva, having received the cha Sujata, and step by step advanced towards the Nairañjana where he partook of the food, after which he entered the rive bathed, whilst all the Devas showered down upon him every of flower and perfume. Afterwards, Bodhisatwa, taking his K garment, washed it in the stream, and attempted then to pr to the other shore of the river; but his strength had be reduced by the penance which for six years he had endured, he was unable to reach the opposite bank. Then the Deva certain great tree which was called Pinjuna,2 the Deva's 1 being Akuba, stretched forth his jewelled arm to assist Bodhisa Then Bodhisatwa, having taken the outstretched hand, rea 1 These portents I omit, vide M. B., 167-8. 2 Observe that Foucaux gives the name of the tree Kako (Lal. Vist., 257). Compare also Pancu(kulasiva)na with Pin (in the Text). 3 It seems plain that this incident is the subject of the sculp on the right hand pillar of Plate lviii, Tree and Serpent Worship Tey any deg proce A begs food Amred there, he Niodia, the rage iri mitere smpai fie of the dwelling, swatting if the village lord, seeing Bodhissre the gate, immediately sent ár a to the brim with the debtions food, presented it to Budhisatwa. Having e spake this, “Would that my kni isk full of deliciously prepared nice 2 the character of the food, thought en that I should henceforth strive of the right law. I vow from this From the thraldom of death, and of e salvation for all men, and conduct Then, having accepted the gift of n to keep the golden dish. Thus ilva, having received the charity of ted towards the Nairañjana river, cer which he entered the river and wered down upon him every kind ds, Bodhisatwa, taking his Kashya n, and attempted then to proceed ; but his strength had been so or six years he had endured, that osite bank. Then the Deva of a lled Pinjuna, the Deva's name ewelled arm to assist Bodhisatwa.3 the outstretched hand, reached B., 167-8. the name of the tree Kakoubha Pancu(kulasiva)na with Pinjuna t is the subject of the sculpture ii, Tree and Serpent Worship. daughter of the same name as the vanced from a spring that bubbled to Bodhisatwa a seat,1 on which, ta delicate food of Sujata, the village cluded his meal, he forthwith cast stream, which the Nâga, who was lo and conveyed to his palace; but assumed the form of a Garuda, and hands of the Nâga, and transported ven, where it is still an object of wo Then Bodhisatwa arose, and, ste the Bodhi tree; whilst the Nâga Ra she had provided for Bôdhisatwa, ca an object for future worship. And s "Bodhisatwa, having partaken of t religion direct, The food which Sujata had piously [Kiouen XXV has 6,480 word CHAPTER The advance to the § 1. THUS refreshed with the food h Nairañjana river, Bôdhisatwa set hi and proceeded onward-slowly and former Bodhisatwas had done. (H of the method of walking adopted by 1 A sort of basket-seat, confer, 7 xxiv, Fig. 2. diately he recognised the truth that he ought to make a of grass for a seat. At this time certain Devas of the Suddhavasa Heavens að Bôdhisatwa, and said "Even so! even so! Holy and r one, the former Bôdhisatwas have all made their seat arranged for the purpose, and thus have attained compl lightenment." Then Bôdhisatwa thought, "And who is give me this grass ?" Thinking thus, he looked on every him to see if any one were near him who could supply th At this time Såkra Râja, of the Trâyastriñshas Heavens divine wisdom knowing the thoughts of Bôdhisatwa, imme transformed himself into the shape of a grass-cutter, and his stand not far from Bôdhisatwa, he remained there on th hand side of him, cutting some beautiful grass, shining as t cock's feathers, of a beautiful blue-like colour, its points al ing to the right.1 When Bodhisatwa perceived him th gaged, he approached to his side and said, "Excellent s what is your name;" to which the grass-cutter replied name is Kih-li2 (Santi ?)" On hearing this, Bôdhisatwa t thus with himself, "This name is an assurance to me that attain my aim;" and then, in a soft and melodious voice follows a long description of the different qualities of his vo addressed the grass-cutter and said, "Can you give me of this grass ?" The supposed grass-cutter immediately ans "" I can.' Then Sâkra, under the form of Santi, came forwar respectfully offered some of his grass to Bôdhisatwa. taken one handful of it, he proceeded onwards. Then the quaked six times. And now, just as Bôdhisatwa took the suddenly five hundred blue birds, coming from the ten quart 66 H 1 This, amongst numerous other notices of a similar char will explain many Buddhist symbols and emblems; the which turn to the right in the composition of various figures stitute the emblem a fortunate one, e.g., the conch, the vol which twists to the right, the swastika, etc. 2 That is, "good luck," or "fortunate." ment of the highest wisdom?" Im truth that he ought to make a cushion s of the Suddhavasa Heavens addressed ven so! even so! Holy and reverend as have all made their seat of grass and thus have attained complete ensatwa thought, "And who is there to king thus, he looked on every side of hear him who could supply the want. the Trayastriñshas Heavens, by his houghts of Bodhisatwa, immediately e shape of a grass-cutter, and taking atwa, he remained there on the right e beautiful grass, shining as the peaI blue-like colour, its points all turnodhisatwa perceived him thus enside and said, "Excellent sir, and ich the grass-cutter replied, "My hearing this, Bodhisatwa thought e is an assurance to me that I shall 1 a soft and melodious voice (here e different qualities of his voice) he d said, “Can you give me some rass-cutter immediately answered, e form of Santi, came forward and 3 grass to Bodhisatwa. Having ceeded onwards. Then the earth it as Bodhisatwa took the grass, coming from the ten quarters of con er notices of a similar character, mbols and emblems; the lines, nposition of various figures, ne, e.g., the conch, the volute of tika, etc. inate." bird and beast) coming up, did t Devas, Nagas, Asuras, and creat Bodhisatwa marched onwards.1 Now at this time there was a Nâ whose name was Ka-cha (Kâlika). and in ages and kalpas gone by had now been asleep for some tim by the shaking of the earth, an earthquake. Proceeding outside he looked round on every hand to and there, not far from his dwellin ing onward with dignified gait to serving this, the Nâga Râja feelin former ones, would reach Suprem to utter the following stanzas: "How full of grace and dignity th Just as I have heretofore seen All the Bodhisatwas coming tow So this one is now advancing in I clearly see that this illustriou Will certainly attain to supreme His walk and bearing indicate b First raising his right foot, and See him now looking round with He surely must attain the perfe And now see him by the side of Begging a handful of grass-hol He now with straight course adv He certainly will now attain the And now from all the quarters o 1 The description here is very f not thought it worth my while to Vist., p. 263. 2 The interpretation is "the bla 3 That is the arena round the B This holy one, having attained the perfection of wisdom, Shall cause to appear the brightness and the glory of his ow And now again see all the beasts of every sort approach, And in their infinite varieties surround him as he goes; Surely as they turn thus before him in the direction of th hand, This virtuous one will accomplish his aim and become th of the World. And now again the elephants and horses and such do creatures, And all the turbanned1 crowd approach his side. See them thus together advance and greet the Bodhisat And now the Devas of the Suddhavasa Heavens, Bending before the virtuous one as he advances! Pay him reverence! soon will he become a perfect Buddha Having uttered these stanzas, the Nâga Râja, filled wit greatest joy, proceeded with hands clasped together to Bodhisatwa, and humbly pay him reverence. On which satwa addressed him thus: "Be it so! be it so! great Naga as you say! I am now bent upon the acquisition of the hi wisdom." And then he repeated the following Gâthas: "Great Nâga Râja! these words of thine Cause my resolution to increase still more, I now am fixed, and soon shall reach perfection! I now must soon cross over this sea of sorrow To the other shore; of this there can be little doubt." 1 Devas. |