of that Sakya Prince, Mahânama, to deliver this message— understand your highness has a daughter; let her, I pray yo contract a marriage with my son, the Prince Royal." Then Mah nama replied, 'Our Sâkya rules are these—if a man excel others in martial exercises, then he is crowned victor, and carri off the prize of the fairest maiden; but if he fail, then no su prize can be his. I fear the Prince Royal has been brought delicately, and has learned none of the arts and practices chivalry, either in tilting, or wrestling or boxing; but how ca I wed my child to one so utterly void of skill in these arts, as fear the prince to be?"

The messenger, viz., the Lord of the Council, having heard th returned forthwith to Suddhôdana and reported it. The Râja, hearing the message, was afflicted with chagrin, for his though were these "These words of Mahânama, I fear, are true words and so he sat silent and still, lost in thought and cast down his reflections. The Prince Royal, observing this, respectfully a proached his father's presence, and three times in succession i quired the cause of the Râja's grief. His father at first told hi he had far better not inquire; but on the question being repeate three times, he told the prince precisely how the matter stood.

The prince, having learned the truth, spake thus to his father"Let your majesty issue a proclamation that I am ready to compe with all comers, in the arts and exercises of war; or, is it not you will that I should so compete ?" The king, hearing these words, w much rejoiced, and could not overcome his feelings of exultatio and turning to his son he asked him earnestly-" And are you, m son, prepared to carry out this project, and compete, as you sa against all comers in the arts and exercises of war ?" The prin replied, "Listen to me, Mahârâja! I am quite prepared an able! only let the Sâkya youths be assembled, and I will challeng them all in the arts, and every feat of strength and skill!" The the king ordered it to be proclaimed throughout the city of Kapil vastu, in every one of the principal thoroughfares and at the hea of every street, that at the expiration of six days, and on th

ied out, "I will give you a sum you cannot do;" but he failed; nd so two, up to the whole five hundred]. Then Ardjuna, in tonishment and delight, uttered this Gâtha :

:

Well done! a victory this to be ever kept in mind!

Clearly answering every proposed calculation without error!
The five hundred Sâkya youths challenged him to the trial;
But though all together they made the trial-'twas vain!
Oh! what depth of wisdom and memory is here!
What power of calculation and what quickness!
Surely we have found a master of figures

Able even to count the drops of the ocean!

Be silent, then, all ye Sâkyas-and hold your peace!
To contend with an one like this, ye are unable !
He who has exhibited such rare talents

Ought only to be allowed to contend with myself!"

this time all the Sâkyas, conceiving great reverence in their arts for the young prince, rose up at once from their seats, and, th joined hands, did him homage and exclaimed, “Siddârtha! mighty prince! yours is the victory! verily, yours is the unbted victory!"

And then they addressed Suddhôdana and said, "Wonderful! nderful good fortune is yours, Mahârâja! in possessing such a ! gifted with such merit, such wisdom, such aptitude of speech, sweet, so soft, so perfect in every word of his mouth!" Then Suddhôdana, filled with joy and satisfaction, turned to the ince with a smile and said, "Well done! but are you able, do u think, to compete with Ardjuna, the master of figures, in prosing some rare problem or expedient, in solution of questions of is sort ?" The prince replied, “Mahârâja! I am able to do so." e king answered, “If you are able to do so! now is your time.” en Ardjuna, the master of figures, asked the prince the followg question, "Respectable prince! are you able to recite the meration of figures above a lakh ?"

is called an Ayuta [i.e., ten lakhs (C)
is called a Niyuta, a hundred Niyut
hundred Prayutas is called a Kañgk
is called a Vivara, a hundred Vivara
hundred Akshobyas is called a Vivasa,
an Utsañga, a hundred Utsangas is c
Bahunas is called a Nâgabala, a hun
Titibala, a hundred Titibalas is called
a hundred of these is called a Hetuhila
scale, as follows): a Kalapôta, a Hetv
a Gannaganti, a Nimaradjya, a Madal
bala, a Visandjñâpati, a Sarvasandjñ
shaya; if this numeration is used it
grains, etc. contained in Mount Sumer
Above this is an enumeration called
this there is another enumeration ca
another called Pranada; above this is a
this another called Karôshtavata; abo
vanikchepa, by aid of this numeration
the sands of one Ganges, or two, and s
an enumeration called Agasava; in thi
the sands of myriads of kotis of Ganges
ration above this called Paramânu prav
At this time Ardjuna, the master of f
and said, And as to the enumerat
number of minute atoms of dust as a b
this also? If so, be pleased to do so."
The prince replied, 'Listen, ther
tell you.
Seven grains of these mi
one mote (such as one sees in a sur
one hare-grain (such as a hare raises
grains make one sheep-grain, seven
grain, seven of these make a nit, se
seven of these a mustard-seed grain,
barley, seven of these a finger-joint

sembly can tell me how many minute grains of dust there are one yojana ?"

Then Ardjuna, the master of figures, replying to the prince, d, "Most illustrious sir! I indeed feel this question beyond knowledge-I am in utter confusion of mind, how much more ners, who are comparatively ignorant. Nevertheless, I pray you swer the question yourself-how many minute grains of dust are ere in a yojana?"

Kiouen XII contains 6,782 words, and cost 3.391 taelsto print.]

CHAPTER XIII.

The competition in martial exercises (continued).

(THE prince, having answered the previous question, the narive proceeds).

Then Ardjuna, the master of figures, and all the Sâkya youths re highly delighted and exulted with great joy. They took off eir costly garments and jewels to present to the prince, and dressed him in these laudatory stanzas. "Well done! well ne! thou art indeed pre-eminent amongst us in the knowledge figures, O prince! as well as in the art of writing. Incomparle is thy skill and thy knowledge." And then they added again, We acknowledge thy victory in these matters, let us now comce in martial exercises !"

At this time, there was amongst the assembled Sâkyas one great nister whose name was Sahadeva, him they appointed umpire. Then Ananda began the joust, having placed at the distance of o krosas an iron drum as a target. Devadetta placed one at r krosas distance; whilst Nando (Sundarananda) placed one krosas off. The great minister Mahânama, of the Basita family,