________________
INTRODUCTION.
xxxi
18. Exposition of the advantages, worldly and spiritual, enjoyed by the ministers of religion.
19. Story of Sadâparibhata, exemplifying the superiority of simple-mindedness and pure-heartedness to worldly wisdom and scepticism.
20. Grand show exhibited by the two Tathagatas Sakyamuni and Prabhūtaratna conjointly? Pause after the performance. After the pause a great stir amongst gods, celestial and infernal beings, men, &c? The Tathagata extols the Satra of the Lotus in which 'all Buddha-laws are succinctly taught,' as well as the keepers of this most eminent of Satras.
Immediately after this chapter may have followed, in the oldest version, the epilogue entitled 'Period of the Law;' the reasons for this opinion have been already stated above. The supposed additional chapters contain the following topics, briefly indicated :
21. Efficacy of talismanic spells (Dharanis).
22. Self-sacrifice of the Bodhisattva Sarvasattvapriyadarsana, otherwise called Bhaishagyaraga. Glorification of the Lotus as the most eminent of Satras.
23. Visit of the Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara to the Sahaworld. Extraordinary qualities and achievements of this worthy, incidentally narrated by the Tathagata. Return of the Bodhisattva to whence he came.
24. Grandeur and ubiquitousness of Avalokitesvara.
25. Wonderful and edifying story of the conversion of the king Subhavydha through the instrumentality of his two sons Vimalagarbha and Vimalanetra, al. Bhaishągyaråga and Bhaishagyasamudgata.
26. The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra charges himself with the task of being a protector to the preachers of religion in after-times after the Lord's Nirvana S.
1 Both stretch their flaming tongues as far as the Brahma-world. In the Bhagavad-gita XI, 30 it is said of Narayana, when at the request of Arguna he shows himself in his full grandeur: lelihyase grasamânah samantal lokân mamagrân vadanair gvaladbhik, tegobhir âpůrya gagat samagram bhâsas tavogrâk prapatanti, Vishno ! . Cf. Bhagavad-gitâ XI, 15.
There is some incongruity between this chapter and chapter x, because
Digitized by Google