more may men!" When Bodhisatwa was thus born, he said, "Now then I ha arrived at my last birth; no more shall I enter into the womb be born; now shall I accomplish the end of my being, and beco Buddha." [This refers to the utterance of Bôdhisatwa when he h arrived at complete enlightenment. "Now I have finished my births have completed my course; I have done all that I had to do; there no further form of life for me to assume."] [The seventh Kiouen contains 6790 words, and cost 3.395 Taels CHAPTER VIII. Birth beneath the Tree. PART II. BODHISATWA having thus been born without any assistance o support, he forthwith walked seven steps towards each quarter of the horizon; and as he walked, at each step, there sprang from the earth beneath his feet a lotus flower; and as he looked steadfastly in each direction his mouth uttered these words; first looking to the east, he said, in no childish accents, but according to the very words of the Gâtha, plainly pronounced, In all the world I am the very chief; from this day forth my births are finished." [Now this about his walking without assistance, and so forth, is an adbhuta dharma, to signify that when Buddha arrived at perfect enlightenment, he attained also the seven Bôdhyanga (vide Eitel, sub voce). His looking to the four quarters signifies his obtaining the four fearless rules; whilst the words he uttered refer to the universal reverence paid to him by Devas and men after his enlightenment, and also to Sun X then I have Inner as the womb to r my being, and become 3. So when he had home Tubbed my births; I thes I had to do; there is s. 17 sost 3.395 Taels.] cut any assistance or wards each quarter of there sprang from the he looked steadfastly crds; first looking to according to the very all the world I am the Snished" [Now this forth, is an adbhuta at perfect enlightenEitel, sub voce). His ng the four fearless universal reverence nment, and also to peared two beautiful tanks, one of cold, which she mixed as most agreeable to l again from the midst of space, there fel cold and hot, with which the body of [These again are adbhuta dharmas, pointin and Vipasina to remove all sorrow and des appearance of the water refers to the na habits of mind to procure all that is desir Then all the Devas brought a golden sea cupy, which done, he refreshed and w grateful streams of water. [This refers t on which Buddha sat, after his enlighten which appeared at his birth, refers to the (wheel of the law).] [Again, when it is said obscured even the sun, it refers to the sup nence as a teacher, and the honour he rece etc.] [Again, what is said about the trees a life at the time of Bodhisatwa's birth, refe were able to arrive at who heard the first te what is said about the Devas holding over brella, large as a chariot wheel, with a golde and passionless method in which Buddha, wisdom, obtained complete release from al incident to the state of "birth and death."] At this time, there was a great ministe family name was Basita, and his privat in company with various other ministers gether to visit the Lumbini garden. H standing without the gates, at that ti ministers and said, 'Do you perceive ho 1 The text then continues to relate th took place at the time of the birth; th and scattering flowers, a soft rain fal notices. serene and calm-listen! there is the roll of thunder! and thoug there be no clouds, yet the soft rain is falling; so beautifully fe tilising in its qualities! and the air is moved by a gentle and coo breeze coming from the eight quarters—and hark to the soun of that voice of Brahma so sweetly melodious in the air, and all th Devas chanting their hymns and praises! whilst the flowers and sweet unguents rain down through the void!" "These things Then a minister answered Mahanama and said, are so! yet it is nothing extraordinary; it is the nature of things (earth) to produce such results!" Another said, "No doubt these things are very wonderful and not to be accounted for." Thus they deliberated together on the point. All at once, from the garden, there came tripping along a woman who came forth from Lumbini and stood outside the very gate where Basita and the Brahmans were in consultation; on seeing whom, she was greatly rejoiced, and could not contain herself for very gladness of heart; and so she cried out, "Oh! ye sons of Sâkya! hurry away as fast as possible to Mahârâja." Then the ministers replied, seeing her high spirits, "And what news shall we give him when we see him; what does your manner signify-is it good tidings or bad?" To whom she replied, "Oh! Sâkyas! it is wonderfully good news!' "What is it then," they said; "come! let us know." Then she continued, "The queen has borne a son! oh! so beautiful and such a lovely child! a child without peer on earth! and the Devas are scattering flowers about him, and there is a heavenly light diffused round his person." The great ministers having heard these words, their hearts were filled with joy, and they could not contain themselves for gladness of heart! At this time, the great minister Basita loosed from his neck the string of precious stones that he wore, and gave it to the woman, because of the news she brought; but having done so, again he thought, "This woman, perhaps, is a favourite of the king, and his majesty seeing her so beautifully adorned, will naturally inquire and find out where these pearls were obtained, and so it will cause trouble." So he took back the gems and desired that what f thunder! and though ling; so beautifully fered by a gentle and cool and hark to the sound as in the air, and all the whilst the flowers and !" d said, "These things s the nature of things said, "No doubt these accounted for." Thus at once, from the garwho came forth from where Basita and the hom, she was greatly y gladness of heart; ! hurry away as fast rs replied, seeing her m when we see him; dings or bad?" To erfully good news!" ow." Then she conɔeautiful and such a and the Devas are venly light diffused heard these words, I not contain them sed from his neck ing done so, again e of the king, and will naturally inned, and so it will !esired that what as to the character of the event which ha the woman replied, "Great minister! pray circumstances attending the birth of the chil for our queen, Mâya, standing upright on came forth of her right side; there was or side, or loins! when the child came fo fell beautiful garments, soft as the stuf Devas! these the Devas wrapped round and holding him before his mother, they you, queen Mâya! rejoice and be glad! f borne is holy!" Then the child, having come side, said these words, "No further births is my very last body! now shall I attain to dha!" then, without aid, standing on the g steps, whilst Lotus flowers sprang up ben each quarter; and whilst looking to the eas accents, unlike the words of a child, he sa tures I am the most excellent; for I am ab tirpate the roots of sorrow caused by the un death." Then there came forth from mid-a hot and cold, respectively, to refresh and as he stood there on the ground; and agai him a golden seat on which to repose whilst such brightness shone around, eclipsing the all the Devas brought a white umbrella with it was large as a chariot wheel, with whi they held great chamaras in their hands child's head! whilst in the air, there was music, but no instruments; and there wa singing hymns of praise in every direction; scented fell down in profusion, and thoug] fiercely, yet they withered not, nor dried!" Then Mahânama, the great minister, hav 1 An exquisite example of sta them to a beautiful chariot, drove, fleet as the wind, from the of Lumbini straight to Kapilavastu, and without waiting to see king, he sounded aloud the drum of joy,1 until his very stren was exhausted. Now, at this time, Suddhôdana Râja was sitt on his royal throne, settling with his ministers some import affairs of state, surrounded by attendants on every side; sudde hearing the sound of the joy-drum, the king, in surprise, inqui of his minister, "Who is it so abruptly dares to make this no in front of the gate of one of the Ikshwaku family? exhausting his strength in beating the drum of joy!" Then the guard in fro of the gate replied, and said to the king, "Mahârâja! your n jesty's minister, Basita, surnamed Mahânama is approaching a four-horsed chariot, swift as the wind, from the direction Lumbini; and now he is getting down from his chariot, and, w all his might, beating the drum of joy belonging to the Mahârâ and without any further words, he demands straightway to see t king." The Suddhôdana replied thus to his ministers, "WE can be the good news which Basita Mahânama has to tell th he comes so hurriedly to my presence?" The ministers I plied, "Let him be summoned to your majesty's presence." then Mahânama, coming before the king, cried out with a lo voice, "May the king be ever victorious! may the king be ev honoured." Having said this, he paused to regain his strengt Meantime, Suddhôdana, having heard these words, addressed M hanama, and said, Mahânama! great minister of the Sákya tell me why you thus come without preface into our presence, yo strength exhausted with beating the drum of joy!" Then th great minister, Mahânama, replied, "Oh king! your majesty queen, the queen of the ruler of the city of Devadaho and Lumbin having gone forth into the midst of that garden, has brought fort a son, beautiful as gold in colour, heralded into the world by supernatural light, and provided with a cradle by the Devas!" 1 The drum of joy, i. e., the drum or gong hung in front of th palace, which was sounded when there was good tidings brought |