Indian Antiquary Vol 09

SR No.: 032501
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 398
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 167

JUNE, 1880.]
"SILVER-WHITE WOMAN."
147
and he observed that although the sun was verance (virya), of contemplation (ñana), and declining fast, that the shadow of the tree still of wisdom (prajna)." Then having heard this remained protecting him. Then the great they said, we will aim at this. Thus that child minister in a moment caused him to wake, and having led his companions into this condition he when he woke he took him to the "Royal City" reflected thus, "Now I desire to do some small (Rajagriha, i.e. the capital), and performing the act of charity, whether it be for man (biped) or accustomed tonsure, he clothed him in the beast (quadruped)." Having so thought he kingly vesture, and put on his head the jewelled
repaired to a public place of burial (sitavana), crown, and accosted him thus :-"Now you are and forth with taking a pocket knife (li-lih, "a king, act and govern us accordingly!" To whom lenife for use") he began to cut his body till the he answered: "I am indeed unable to act as your blood gushed out, and then smeared himself king." The minister answered: "But indeed | all over with the blood and dust, and lying yon must;" to which he replied: "If indeed you down in the midst of the cemetery, he sang take me to reign over you, then on your parts out the following words : "Come now from you must take on yourselves the ten religious far and near, ye two-footed and four-footed (virtuous) vows (acts)--to which when they creatures all, come here and eat, oh como and agreed, he undertook to govern them as a king eat my flesh from my body." Now among the in righteousness (religion), and he was called birds that frequented that place there was one again “ Silver-colour." Now at this time the whose name was yeou-sheu (“having a hand"), age of the people reached to 70,000 nahutas of this one coming to the hermit perched above years, so that the king having reigned thus his forehead and pecked at his right eye, and for hundreds and countless thousands of years, having pecked at it, he let it go again. at length came to die-and when about to die Then the hermit said: “Why do you peck at my he repeated these words :
right eye, and then let it go !" The bird replied "All things that exist are transitory,
of all parts of a man's body I think the eye They must of necessity perish and disappear, most beautiful (to the taste ?)." Then the hermit Though joined together, there must be sepa- addressed the bird, and said: “Though a thouration,
sand times over you pecked at my right eye and Where there is life, there must be death, still let it go, yet should I feel no anger or All depends on conduct,
resentment in my heart." Then that bird pecked Whether good, or whether bad,
out both his eyes, and the rest of the birds, all All things born,
assembling in the cemetery, came and devoured Are unstable and inconstant."
bit by bit the hermit's flesh, till naught but the Now, after that king's death he returned again bleached bones were left. to be born in the same kingdom, the Royal Having quitted this body he immediately capital of which was Padma. He was born as a came back, and was reborn in that Royal nobleman's child, very beautiful and fair. At city of Padma as the child of a Brâhman, eight years of age with 500 other youths he very beautiful to behold, and incomparable for entered school; whilst there 'he enquired of grace. Having completed 20 years of age, his those elder ones who had already finished their parents addressed him, and said : “My son school course, why they had gone to school, and (Manav), you must now get a home of your own." on their replying they had gone to learn their Then the young man answered his father and letters, he said "What profit is there in learning mother, and said: “What reason is there for me letters, only one thing is necessary, and that is to have a house of my own, I have no desire for a to aim at the unequalled and unsurpassed con- family residence, my only wish is to be allowed dition of heart known as Anuttara-samyak- to enter the deep mountains as a recluse." His sambhodi." And what is the meaning of that parents having given their consent, he left his condition, they said. To which he replied, "you home, and found a home amidst the mountains must above all things aim at the accomplish- and the forests; whilst wandering thus he saw ment of the six Parumitas." And what are the amid the mountain woods two aged Brahmans, BiX :-"the paramita of charity (dána), of moral who were Rishis; coming to them, he asked conduct sila), of patience (kshanti), of perse- what they did dwelling there; to which they