his birth all things were so perfectly accomplished, therefore, I name him Sheng-li (Sarvârthassiddha1) (perfect prosperity).” ' Suddhôdana opened his treasury, and took a hundred lakh gold to offer to his child as he gave him the name, accordin the words of the Gâtha : "Thus within the King's palace Casting the Horoscope. § 2. THEN Suddhôdana Râja issued his commands that all astrologers and fortune-tellers should at once repair to the Pal to examine the child and cast his horoscope; and on their arri he bade them look well to every sign, whether good or bad, a draw a true conclusion as to the child's destiny. On hearing th the Brahmans, &c., with earnest purpose examined well the chil appearance, and comparing what they saw with all that was plained in their Sacred Books, they finally drew their conclusio and thus addressed the King, "Mahârâja! what great fortune yours! And why? Because of the great dignity of this child, he is indeed born a king of all that lives! For know, Oh! Kin that his body is marked by the thirty-two infallible signs of grea ness. And of persons so marked there are two sorts-if they Secular, then they are all universal monarchs (Chakravartins but if Religious, then they become perfectly illuminated (all-wise and are destined to be perfect Tathagatas." Then Suddhôdana further addressed the astrologers, and sai "What are the signs and the particular places of the signs, con cerning which you speak ?" 1 This is generally contracted into Siddhârtha. eflected, "since on the day of accomplished, therefore, I will -1) (perfect prosperity)." Then nd took a hundred lakhs of him the name, according to = palace prosperous, d's name ssiddha." roscope. his commands that all the at once repair to the Palace scope; and on their arrival whether good or bad, and destiny. On hearing this, e examined well the child's saw with all that was exlly drew their conclusions, îja! what great fortune is ît dignity of this child,— !! For know, Oh! King, ɔ infallible signs of greatare two sorts-if they be narchs (Chakravartins); ly illuminated (all-wise), e astrologers, and said, laces of the signs, con o Siddhârtha. the legs large and broad. 19. The body abo proportioned as the Nyagrôdha tree. 20. and round. 21. Possessed of forty teeth. and close together. 23. The teeth withou dency to decay. 24. The four canine teeth pure. 25. The body pure, and of a golden y voice soft as that of Brahma. 27. The t pliable, and red. 28. Possessed of delicat blue. 30. The eyebrow constantly moving of the oxen. 31. Between the eyebrows a v pliable hair. 32. An excrescence of the top "Mahârâja! these are the thirty-two supe marked with these will become either a Cha Buddha." The King, having heard this explanatio with joy; he exulted greatly, and rejoiced. Now at the time of the birth of Bodhisa the supernatural light appeared and the Rishis and the Devas, who dwelt on earth 1 The French version of the Lalita Vi ances. 2 There is some confusion in the Chines doubtful. the burthen of the strain, and the Yama Devas, and the Tu Devas; and so forth, through all the Heavens of the Kama, F and Arupa worlds, even up to the Akanishta Heavens, all Devas joined in this song and said, "To-day Bôdhisatwa is on earth to give joy and peace to men and Devas, to shed ligh the dark places, and to give sight to the blind.” Now at this time there was a Rishi, called Asita1, dwell at peace above the thirty-three Heavens, who, observing this monstration of joy among the Devas, asked them and said, "Ex lent Devas! tell me why ye are thus singing, and waving y garments and caps for joy;"—to whom they replied, “Is it I sible, that you have not heard that in the city of Kapilavas just below the Snowy Mountains has been born a child of perf beauty, &c., distinguished by the thirty-two great signs, and the eighty lesser ones, destined to attained Supreme wisdom a to turn the wheel of the Divine Law, and to bring perfect deliv ance from sorrow, life and death, to men and Devas ?" Asita, having heard these things, immediately accepting the as true, descended from the Heaven in which he was staying to t Tsang-chang grove where he usually dwelt on earth. Then taki with him his attendant Narada he passed through the air, a alighted not far from Kapilavastu. Standing there he thoug thus with himself: " I will enter this city on foot, without an miraculous exhibition of my power as a Rishi.” Entering the city, therefore, he passed through the crowde streets, and arrived at the palace gates; meanwhile, the peopl stood looking on in wonder, some before their doors, others at thei windows, others leaning over the balustrades, others on the tops o 1 The story that follows and related by Asita, is in the "South ern Records," referred to a tápaso (ascetic) called Kaladewalo Vide Turnour's "Pali Buddhistical Annals," R. A. S. B., 1838 p. 801. 2 Here the description and locality of this grove are given, almost in the same words as in the previous account. Le thirty-three Heavens took up To-day Bodhisatwa is born en and Devas, to shed light in Rishi, called Asital, dwelling avens, who, observing this deasked them and said, "Excelns singing, and waving your com they replied, “Is it pos = in the city of Kapilavastu, been born a child of perfect irty-two great signs, and by tained Supreme wisdom and and to bring perfect deliveren and Devas?" mmediately accepting them which he was staying to the elt on earth. Then taking ssed through the air, and tanding there he thought city on foot, without any Rishi.” sed through the crowded ;; meanwhile, the people heir doors, others at their des, others on the tops of Asita, is in the "Southtic) called Kaladewalo. ls," R. A. S. B., 1838, grove are given, almost it. before the palace gates, addressed the Ward King I am here." On hearing the message, the King, ris dered the Warder to conduct the Rishi out delay. Being seated, the King paid h "I respectfully pay homage to your Rever replied with the following salutation (char your Majesty." Then the King addressed is the occasion of your coming, O Rishi? ments or food or other necessary? If so, ] that you require." To whom Asita rep matter as this, O King! has brought me h come from very far to see the child just bo trust that your Majesty, of your great ki the babe." [Accordingly, Asita and Narad ment where the child lay.] Then Mâya, taking the child in her arm raised, attempted to make him bow his hea the feet of Asita. But the child by his spiri self round in his mother's arms, and pres the Rishi. On which the King, taking th attempt three successive times, with the sa Now when Asita came to look at the child of the Sun shone from his body, and illum and his perfectly beautiful and graceful b his head like a precious covering, his nose round, his limbs perfectly proportioned. Then Asita rose from his seat and add King! make not the child bow his head to worship his feet!" And again he recited th rare event! Oh! seldom seen! A great -a very great being has been born! T Heaven are indeed true, respecting this be Then Asita, unbaring his right shoulde Devas and men should rather worship Him!" Then the King taking costly jewels and precious substances, sented them to Asita, who, on his part, pouring water on the Ki hands, received the gifts; but having done so, he at once sented them to the babe as an offering. Then Suddhôdana dressed him and said, "O great Rishi! I offered these things you, as a tribute of reverence! I beseech you, keep them yo self!" To whom the Rishi answered, "Your Majesty gave th to me! I in my turn gave them to this most excellent chil Suddhôdana said, "Because I know the excellency of your me O Rishi! I presented these things to you." "But because perceive the superiority of this child's excellency, I in my tu present them to him." To which Suddhôdana replied, “I fail understand you, O Rishi!" To whom Asita replied, "Know, King! that with the deepest reverence of body and mind, I ta refuge in and submit to this child." Then Suddhôdana sai "What are the reasons for your so doing? I pray you expa yourself." To whom the Rishi answered, “Listen, then, Mahârâja, and will narrate from beginning to end the circumstances of the cas Know then that I was some time ago dwelling in the Trâyastriñsha heavens. When lo! I saw all the Devas around me rejoicing an dancing for joy, waving their jewelled caps and their garments i the air. On inquiring the reason of this demonstration they said 'Know you not that this day is born in the world, in the Norther region just under the Himalaya Mountains in the city of the Sâk yas, called Kapilavastu, of a Father Suddhôdana, and a Mother Mâya, a very beautiful child, perfect in every respect; endowed with the thirty-two superior signs, and the eighty inferior ones; and destined to become completely illuminated, and to preach the perfect Law. Doubtless this child by his Divine wisdom is com 1 Vide Speirs' Ancient India," page 248, for a picture of this scene from Cave of Ajunta. |