abbápála! in Kôsala, in Ed Griya '(?); the people it please you to be born ngs of Kisala have deother's and father's side, y were of small repute, ss of heart; the country the seven precious sube. Therefore, I cannot ountry, the city Kaud excellences' (tsiened excellences). That and armies (the four please you to be born though what you say Vadsa was born of a of pure descent; you country has a city the people in peace utiful as a heavenly is son without the es full of gems, and " I subsequent passlation, p. 24). e to the north of Sumitra, is devoted to the practice and study of the true law; w you, therefore, be born there ?" Prabhâpâla replied, "What you have said may be so; Sumit Raja may possess all this wealth, and be devoted to religion; yet b is old and decrepit, and no longer able to attend to the business his government; moreover, he has already a large family of sons For these reasons, I cannot be born there." Golden-mass continued, "Prabhàpâla! besides these kings of the middle country, there are other kings of the frontier country, who hold heretical views; for instance, there is the island of Pindu, in which there is a kingdom governed by a king of the Brahman race he resides on the top of Pindu, and is called 'Moon-branch'; pure in descent, both on his father's and mother's side; particular in his religious devotions to all the gods (Devas); perfectly versed in the knowledge of the four Vedas. Will you, venerable one, be born in that family ?" To whom Prabhâpâla replied, "It may be so; but when I am born, I desire to be born in the Kshatriya caste, and not in that of the Brahmans. So pray look elsewhere." The Deva replied, "I have now named every kingdom I can think of in Jambudwîpa; every town, village, and the race of all the kings of the Kshatriya race; and now I am overcome with so much sorrow, in consequence of my failure to find a family worthy of you as a son, that my memory fails me as to any other name, and my mouth cannot further declare the character of these families." Prabhâpâla replied, "It is as you say; you are yet at fault in finding me a pure Kshatriya family, worthy of me as a son!" The Deva replied, " I, looking carefully and anxiously for a place worthy of you when born, suddenly find I have forgotten one Kshatriya family." Prabhâpâla replied, "What is the name thereof ?" The Deva continued: "An ancient family, descended in direct line from successive Chakravarti Râjas, related to Ikshwaku, in y of the true law; will id may be so; Sumitra ted to religion; yet he tend to the business of a large family of sons. Ides these kings of the frontier country, who he island of Pindu, in of the Brahman race; Moon-branch'; pure 's side; particular in as); perfectly versed pu, venerable one, be so; but when I am e, and not in that of ery kingdom I can , and the race of all overcome with so id a family worthy › any other name, haracter of these e yet at fault in e as a son!" iously for a place ve forgotten one ended in direct to Ikshwaku, in this family from the rest. I remember be and I am willing to be born in it as you s has ever been the rule that the expectar must appear in a family possessing sixt what, then, are these sixty signs of excell ones (Buddhas) regard that family with c family must practise no wickedness. 3.-T must be perfectly pure. 4.-The descent line, must be faultless. 5.-The maternal ċ flaw or interruption. 6.-It must, from it the royal line. 7.-All the kings througho must have had deep religious principles principles-roots). 8.-The origin of that fa been made a subject of commendation by (saints). 9.-The members of that family sonal dignity. 10.-The women of that fai their beauty. 11.-The young men mus wisdom. 12.-The disposition of the memb be agreeable and amiable. 13.-Not given -They must be fearless. 15.-Not weak gifted with intellectual power. 17.-Given Afraid of committing sin. 19.—Not mixed in getting wealth. 20.-Faithful in friend to kill either beasts or reptiles, or anythin The names of that family chosen with dis practice self-denial. 24.-Not easily led by or changeable. 26.-Not doubtful or scept fear to follow others. 28.-Adverse to slaug for sin. 30.-Successful in obtaining chari charity. 32.-Invincible. 33.-Regular in willing to comply with all the rules. 34.-F 1 The "Lalita Vistara" makes the numb (Vide in loc. L. V. 27). families. 44. Ancestors, holy men. 45. The most co spicuous amongst such holy men. 46.-Constantly connect with Chakravarti Rajas. 47.-Associated with men of the hig est dignity. 48. Surrounded by very large retinues. 49. Their family associations not to be broken. 50. Their fami associations superior to all others. 51.-Reverent to mothers. 5 -Obedient to fathers. 53.-Pious to Shamans. 54.-Pious t Brahmans. 55.-Plenteous in grain. 56.-Rich in possession 57.—Abounding in cattle, slaves, elephants, horses, oxen, sheep etc. 58. Not exacting on others. 59.-Not deficient in an worldly possessions. 60.—The race perfectly pure through ever generation from its very origin." Devaputra! all expectant Buddhas, when they become incar nated in their mother's wombs, must be born of mothers possessing the thirty-two superior signs of female excellency; and what are these? 1.-She is of perfect virtue, or grace. 2-Her limbs perfect. 3.-Her gait perfect. 4.-Her place of delivery well known (?). 5. Her going abroad at the time of expecting labour. 6.-Her connections perfectly pure. 7.-Her appearance beautiful. 8.Her name propitious. 9.-Her figure well proportioned. 10.-Not yet had a child. 11. Of great religious merit. 12.-Fond of pleasant recreations. 13.—Her heart always virtuously submissive. 14. Without evil thoughts. 15.-Her body, mouth, and mind, pure. 16. Her heart fearless. 17. Recollective. 18.-Ex tremely handy in female pursuits. 19.—Her heart without guile. 20.—No quarrelsome disposition. 21.-No envy. 22.-No anger. 23.--No hatred. 24.-No roughness. 25.-No levity. 26.-Her body with every propitious mark. 27. Great patience. 28.Great modesty. 29.-Hating sensuality, anger, and doubt. 30.Without the faults of women. 31.-Obedient to her husband. 32.- Possessed of all grace and virtue from the time of her birth." Such is the character of the mother of an expectant Buddha; the time of Bôdhisatwa's incarnation is, when the constellation n they become incarof mothers possessing llency; and what are 2-Her limbs perlivery well known (?). ng labour. 6.-Her nce beautiful. 8.portioned. 10.—Not erit. 12.-Fond of rtuously submissive. mouth, and mind, lective. 18.-Ex eart without guile. y. 22.-No anger. o levity. 26.-Her t patience. 28.— and doubt. 30. to her husband. the time of her xpectant Buddha; the constellation body (Shan yeou); not for the sake of gainin the pleasures of sense; but I am about to among men (take this 'one-birth '), simply to all flesh; and to remove all sorrow and g At this time, in the midst of the assembly, spake thus to another: "Our Bôdhisatwa F descend to be born amongst men! he is about abode. When he is gone, how shall we, any lo in this place ?" Then the other replied, "How what can we do then to obtain the privileg the world to see the place where our illustr be born?" A third Deva said, 66 Oh! I v heaven were passed that I might be born ther Deva said, "Let not your hearts be sad! is indeed about to be born amongst men, years as a Deva in this heaven; but how mu he come back to us again." Then anothe said, "Prabhâpâla! venerable one! you ar be born in the world of men. Oh! great si get us not!" At this time, Prabhâpâla these Devas thus: "Let not sorrow and gri I have already told you that all things are plantain-stalk; without any true foundation which must be returned; like the lightnin light), a phantom, a bubble; so are all thin you." Then Prabhâpâla Bôdhisatwa again add said, "There is a cause for all the parting take place in every form of being, and th death!' Be not grieved on my account! have prepared for myself a destiny (Kama), from long continuance in the world. So 1 Corresponding to four stars in cancer ( 2 Mahâpurusha ? |