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THE INITIATION AND OMNISCIENCE OF AJITA
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and modes of expressing things, 271 and permission for the gaņas. 272 The gods, men, and women threw a fragrant powder 278 over the gaṇabhrts, accompanied by the sound of the drum. The gañadharas stood with folded hands, desiring the Master's speech like a stream of nectar. The Lord sat down again on the lion-throne, facing the east as before, and delivered a sermon composed of instruction to them. Just then the first division of the day ended, and the Blessed One completed his sermon on dharma.
The oblation (824–830) Then, placed in a large dish, measuring four prastha, 274 made of pure rice possessing the fragrance of lotuses, its sweet scent multiplied by handfuls of perfume by the gods, ordered made by King Sagara, carried by men of first rank, the whole sky echoing with the loud sound of the drum of the gods, accompanied by women singing auspicious songs, surrounded on all sides by the citizens like a lotusbud by bees, the oblation entered the samavasaraña by way of the east door. After the oblation had circumambulated the Lord of the Three Worlds, they threw it up before (him), like a shower of divine flowers. As it was falling from the sky, the gods took half of it, Sagara took half of what reached the ground, and the rest of the people the remainder. From the power of the oblation diseases which had existed disappear and new ones do not appear for a period of six months.
Then the Lord of the World, the leader on the road to nirvāņa, arose from the lion-throne and left by way of the north door. Then the God of gods rested on the dais placed between the middle and upper walls in the northeast quarter.
271 819. See I, n. 273. 272 819. See I, n. 123. 278 820. See I, n. 274. 274 824. See I, n. 276.
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