and on coming into his presence delivered the message just a was given to him. Then Mâra Râja, the Wicked, Lord of the Kama-lokas, hav heard from the Yaksha, Red-eye, the news of this event, im diately proclaimed to all the Devas of the different heavens belo ing to the Kama loka the tidings of Siddartha's attempt to att Supreme Knowledge, and of his own intention to go forthwith the spot, and prevent the prosecution of his purpose. Then Shreshti, son of Mâra, addressed his father in these words "My Father! this project of thine gives me no satisfaction, fo fear that after a while you will repent of your undertaking wh you find that naught can be accomplished." To whom Mâra Ra replied, "Tush! you are but a child, and you know nothing of spiritual power and facilities in transforming myself as I pleas you are completely in the dark and without any knowledge." Th Shreshti rejoined, "Not so! my father! I am not ignorant of yo powers; but I fear you are ignorant of the spiritual resources Siddartha, for you have not seen the religious power Bôdhisatv possesses; you had better repair to the spot, and see and examin for yourself." Then Mâra Râja Pisuna, disregarding the words of his so Shreshti, forthwith gave orders to assemble his host, armed for th strife. Then indeed might mortal man be terrified to see the vas assembly of warriors all caparisoned and belted for the struggle How fearful the sight! there were some who, with but one body, had hundred thousand faces (mouths) through each of which came fort every kind of snake-like body, which twined around the arms an legs of the monster-fiend; oh! dreadful sight! And then they wer all armed with bows and swords, falchions and axes, spears an lances, morions, and every kind of club! Then there were som whose bodies, heads, eyes, hands, and feet, were all of hideous and misshapen form. Some had above their heads a flaming fire others emitted forked flames from their paps and breasts! others uttered ribald curses and taunts, as they grasped the plough-like club or shook the pestle-shaped mace. And then how dreadful of what is shan, went straight to Pisuna, ssed his father in these words- rding the words of his son semble his host, armed for the an be terrified to see the vast I and belted for the struggle. who, with but one body, had a ugh each of which came forth twined around the arms and I sight! And then they were chions and axes, spears and ub! Then there were some feet, were all of hideous and heir heads a flaming fire; ir paps and breasts! others ey grasped the plough-like And then how dreadful sea. the black snake; their heads in their hands they held the which they fed, even as the Ga Others held in their har and their various limbs, with cu ing the entrails and garbage had green eyes, like that of sunken eyes; others goggle ey the elephant, or the fox, &c., p crinkle-skinned, slobbering, a forms of the warriors who follo hold, fearful to meet as they coming strife! [Kiouen XXVI has 6,60 СНАРТІ The atta § 1. THEN Mâra Râja addres words and said, "You see bef then that would wish or dare t this world ?" Then the Yaksh said, "He is one named Siddâ the time that he received the has not ceased to advance onw towards the tree of knowledge Then Mâra entertained the satwa to rest, and spread his and not proceed onward to t this, he called all the host of Yakshas, assemble at once be sacred precinct, his body shining like a mountain of pure go incomparable for beauty. Then the Yakshas, seeing him th advancing, uttered the following verses— "Surely this is the glory of the newly-risen sun, In deep commiseration both for Devas and for men. Then the Guardian Spirit of the Wood replied as follows (vers to the same effect) to the Yakshas. Then as Bodhisatwa approached the sacred spot, holding th grass in his left hand, he arranged it with his right hand on th eastern side of the tree, and so sat down, and as he took his sea he vowed that he would never rise again till he had attaine enlightenment. Then the earth quaked six times. Upon this Mâra Pisuna, Lor of the Kama-lokas, repaired to the place where Bodhisatwa wa seated and said, "Thou son of a Kshattriya! it is not agreeble t me that you should make your seat here, under this tree, nor is i safe for you; for in the middle of the night there are countless Pisatcha fiends and Putanas and Yakshas and Rakshas who come here to devour the flesh of men and quaff their blood; but to the north of this tree there is a grove where all the great Rishis dwell, it is close to the village of Uravilva, a very delightful spot indeed; go, therefore, thou son of the Sâkya race, and take up your abode there." To which Bôdhisatwa replied, "And dost thou not know, Mâra Pisuna! that I have for years dwelt as a hermit in the midst of the solitary mountains and woods, and in the hollows and dells of the lonely wastes, and yet have never feared such midnight visitors; and now I have come here not without purpose and design, for I know full well that beneath this tree all the Buddhas have attained to the condition of Supreme Wisdom, and for this reason and with this end in view, I have come here and taken up my abode." Then a certain Yaksha, who stood on Mâra's right hand said, "And why, fulfil my vow, but only beneath to remain here!" And so the G "Bodhisatwa, seated with his Then Mâra Râja, having disap himself into the figure of a mess and dishevelled hair, panting a holding in his hands a bundle o Sâkya princes. With these he was, and opening his mouth he s are from Sâkya princes to you from Aniruddha, this from Dev Ananda." Now, on all these let that Devadatta had usurped the entered the palace of Bôdhisatv wives, and placed Suddhôdana fa Bôdhisatwa, therefore, to return, government. Then Bodhisatwa reflected, th act thus to the women, and natu Suddhôdana, whilst the Sâkyas shown a cowardly and hateful di follies and weakness of the nat attain something higher and bet ened within him. Then, as Bôdhisatwa sat thus resided there to protect the pre cast all her ornaments before B voice entreated him to persever Devas of the surrounding trees co who the glorious being was tha the branches, and on hearing the to overthrow my power and the dominion I hold over the w he aims to drive me back and trample me underfoot; if he pr he will teach all men the way to Nirvâna, he will show ther various methods how to attain it, and my kingdom will be a end, but he has not yet accomplished his aim. I will, therefore every possible expedient and stratagem prevent him from d so, and drive him away from this spot." And so the Gâtha [as before]. Then Mâra assembled around him his thousand sons; on right were five hundred, of whom Shreshti was chief, and on his five hundred, of whom "Wicked-mouth" was chief. Then Mâra addressed them all in these words "My sons have summoned you to this spot that I may know your opin respecting the best method of overthrowing and destroying Bodhisatwa who sits there beneath the tree!" At this time Shr began, and addressed his father in the following Gâthas— "Would you dare to touch the great dozing snake? To whom "Wicked-mouth" replied If a man but see me his heart sinks within him! All the trees at my touch fall to the earth! How much more, then, shall this Shaman, seeing me, (And so the discussion continues from right to left, the form deprecating any attempt to conquer Bôdhisatwa, the latter e couraging it.) Mâra Raja then addresses his great minister Bhadr pati, who also dissuades him from attempting to pr vent Bodhisatwa attaining his object, on the groun |