wiftest horses, and yoking as the wind, from the gate without waiting to see the 1 until his very strength dhôdana Râja was sitting ministers some important s on every side; suddenly King, in surprise, inquired dares to make this noise zu family? exhausting all Then the guard in front g, “Mahârâja! your maanama is approaching in d, from the direction of -om his chariot, and, with elonging to the Mahârâja, ds straightway to see the "What to his ministers, hânama has to tell that The ministers ree?" najesty's presence." So cried out with a loud ! may the king be ever to regain his strength. se words, addressed Maminister of the Sákyas! › into our presence, your m of joy!” Then the 1 king! your majesty's Devadaho and Lumbini, ɩrden, has brought forth ed into the world by a adle by the Devas!" g hung in front of the good tidings brought. pense can I give? what return can I m bring?" After some delay, he replied, vilege of attending constantly on the Prin Suddhôdana replied, "be it so, as you wish Then forthwith Mahânama, surrounded b proceeded to Lumbini to conduct the Princ Kapilavastu. On the way thither, Sudd dressed Mahânama, and the great minister know, great ministers, whether to be glad tidings of the miracles attending the birth of Mahânama replied, "it is certainly an o Mahârâja, and not for sorrow; for is it possibl not heard that these circumstances ever att descended mortals; as, for instance, in the called Dashthaka, who was born from a flow without any human instruction whatever structed, was able thoroughly to explain have you not heard, O king, of that wonderfu of a king from the head of his father (agrają being so born, gradually grew up from a li king who ruled the four empires of the wo jesty not heard of a king in the old days, call who was born from the hand of his father or has your majesty not heard of that king his father's stomach, called Rupa; or of t born from his father's arm; or, is it possible recollect the origin of your own house and when Ikshwaku was born from the sugar can in a manner quite incomprehensible to us, e son, is born." To whom Suddhôdana repl Mahǎnama! but all these whom you have personal dignity and renown; but in this ca that such is the case!" To whom Mahanan joy, "Be it known to you, Mahârâja, that 19 66 To whom the king replied again, “Let there be no trifling in matter; for a father is naturally anxious for his son to excel otl in quickness and knowledge, in conduct and decorum, in judgm and resolute application; when this is so he rejoices naturally. And so, halting at length, they came to Lumbini. Having rived at the outer gate of the garden, they immediately dispatc a messenger to the Queen to congratulate her on the auspici event of the birth and its attending circumstances, and to expr the king's desire to see the child. To which the queen made rep Go! tell the king he may enter the garden!" Then a woman attendance, seeing the king in the garden, took the child in 1 arms, and approaching the king, said, The royal babe salutes father." To whom the king answered, "Not so! first of all se him to the Brahman ministers in attendance and afterwards let h see me!" Then the nurse forthwith took Bôdhisatwa to the pla where the Brahmans were. At this time, the chief minister (K sse), and the Brahmans, having looked at the child, addressed Su dhôdana in the following terms of congratulation, "All honour be the King, and prosperous for evermore! even as we see th this babe will prosper! even so may the king and all the Sâk race increase and ever flourish. Mahârâja! this child will ce tainly, and of necessity, become a holy Chakravartin monarch!" 66 At this time, queen Mâya, the mother of Bôdhisatwa, beholdin Suddhodana and the ministers, her face glowing with joy, imm diately inquired of the king in these words, "Mahârâja! recite t me I pray you the distinguishing signs of one who is to become Chakravartin monarch! tell me, I pray you, what these are that m heart may also rejoice!" Then Suddhôdana Râja desired th Brahman ministers to explain and point out the distinctive sign of a Chakravartin monarch. To whom they replied as follows 1 The nature of the Chakravarti monarch has been exhaustively discussed by M. Senart, in the "Journal Asiatique," Aug. and Sept. 1873. e sigus re excellent and noteworthy.” et there be no trifling in this e to Lumbini. Having ar tey immediately dispatched late her on the auspicious cumstances, and to express hich the queen made reply, rden!" Then a woman in rden, took the child in her The royal babe salutes his "Not so! first of all send nce and afterwards let him Bodhisatwa to the place , the chief minister (Kwo the child, addressed Sudatulation, "All honoured ore! even as we see that king and all the Sâkya âja! this child will cerakravartin monarch!” f Bôdhisatwa, beholding lowing with joy, imme\s, “Mahârâja! recite to one who is to become a , what these are that my dana Râja desired the ut the distinctive signs hey replied as follows, has been exhaustively Asiatique," Aug. and the air for the purpose of carrying on his gover if there is a drought any where, he can cause at his birth all discord and enmity amongst is universal joy and fellow-feeling amongst all monarch is always possessed of seven precious in discus, a magic jewel, an elephant, a horse, a a warlike minister (or, a general). These are signia (sapta Ratnani); the life of a Chakrava: his death a quiet, painless one; his body bea comparison; universally beloved and revere even as one loves an only son, whilst he cares people more than one would cherish a naked a Then Suddhodana thought with himself th means of conveyance have I for my son in re No sooner had he thought thus than the caused a precious palanquin to appear of itse human art could have made it so, and there v pared with it. Then Suddhodana took immediate steps t pared, the streets of Kapilvastu adorned, and and women of the place summoned to accomp return. Besides these, he ordered all the con the pearl players (ball-players ?), the water-s] raders, and all such, to attend the cortége. T the spot, accompanied by vaulters, tumblers, b players, stilt-walkers, pole-climbers, walkers down, feet up), turners round and round lik dancers, spear-twisters (?), sword-kickers, and of such light and laughable exhibition, with ments. Then the four guardians of the world changing their appearance, assumed the garb o ful age and distinguished beauty, and thems 1 The narrative then proceeds to speak of "Universal Monarchs." staff; and so furnished, he went before the face of Bodhisatwa as he proceeded he exhorted all those whom he met in these te My friends! prepare the way, clear the road! for now the excellent of mortals is about to enter the city!" At this time, Brahma Râja and the Devas of the Rupa heav joined together in this old strain of laudation,— "In heaven above, in earth beneath, there is no such bein Buddha. "In all the regions of space, through all the worlds, there is 1 such. "I have looked through and examined every form of life amo: men, "And I find there is none to be compared with him called the wise (Buddha)." At this time, not far from Kapilavastu, there was a Deva tem the Deva's name being "Tsang Chang” (Dirghâvardana ?), at wh shrine the Sâkyas paid unwonted honours; then Suddhôd forthwith took the infant in his arms to this temple and addres his ministers in these words, Now my child may pay worshi] this Deva." Then his mother (or, nurse), took the child to the customary honours, at which time a certain Deva, called haya" (wou wei), took the image of the Deva in the temple, a made it come down and bow before Bôdhisatwa with closed har and prostrate head, and addressed the nurse thus, "This Pri of mortals is not called on to worship, but is deserving of worship; let me adore him, for to whom he bows down, insta destruction would follow." [Kiouen VIII contains 6550 words and cost 3.275 taels to prin re the face of Bodhisatwa, and e whom he met in these terms, r the road! for now the most r the city!" e Devas of the Rupa heavens, laudation,— ath, there is no such being as h all the worlds, there is none ed every form of life amongst pared with him called the All tu, there was a Deva temple, '(Dirghâvardana ?), at whose onours; then Suddhôdana o this temple and addressed ny child may pay worship to rse), took the child to pay a certain Deva, called "Abe Deva in the temple, and Thisatwa with closed hands nurse thus, "This Prince p, but is deserving of all om he bows down, instant cost 3.275 taels to print.] §1. At this time there were five hundred S who, in readiness for the return of Bôdhisat pared five hundred Viharas (pure abodes) came to pass as he entered the city that eac before the door of his own abode, and with j hands paid reverence to him and said, Gods! I pray thee enter this my pure abo of the ship! enter this my pure abode! C purest among creatures, enter this my pu universal joy, enter this my pure abode! R enter this my pure abode! Incomparable my pure abode !" Then Suddhôdana Râja, for the sake of tives, through consideration for them, caus each dwelling in succession whilst he pre peculiar abode. Now, on the day of his birth there were fiv born, of whom Bôdhisatwa himself was by there were five hundred Sâkya princesses b was chief; there were five hundred children of Suddhôdana, of whom Tchandaka was chi dred children born of the slaves of Suddhôda servants of the Royal prince; there were fiv the white mares belonging to the Royal stu chief; and so also five hundred white eleph selves, and went round the city of Kapilavas gardens, with fountains, tanks, &c., appeared five hundred merchant-men with gold, silv arrived at the city; moreover, they had (o dred superb umbrellas, and five hundred different sorts of grain (as tribute), sent fro princes; on the delivery of which the bes cept these things, O King! which we offer i now born." At the same time came five 1 |