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"My son! You have not learnt any craft. Is it good ? Does, it help? "
The Bodhi-sattva, however, replied with confidence:
"There is no craft which I do not know. You issue forth a proclamation that on the seventh, I shall dis - play my skill in public".
The king did accordingly. On the appointed day and at the appointed place, there assembled a vast crowd of thousands of people. Sixty thousand expert archers having diverse proficiency were especial invitees for the occasion, The Bodhi-sattva put on a suit of armour. He wore a turban on his head. He tied a thread of light yellow colour on a bow made from a ram's horn, and tied a bucket full of arrows at his back. He hung a sword at the waist on the left. Then dangling an arrow with a vajra tip on his finger, he came forward. The people welcomed him with a great applause. Addressing the king, the Bodhi - sattva said,
"Sire! From among the archers who are assembled here, the leading -most four who can hit the target in no time, hit a fixed target, follow with an arrow the course of sound, and hit an arrow in motion, may be sent forth to me."
The king did accordingly. The Bodhi-sattva erected a square platform and placed the four archers at the four corners. Each archer was given 30,000 arrows and an expert to assist each. The Bodhi-sattva took his position at the centre of the platform. He was still dangling the same arrow with a vajra tip on his finger. Addressing the king, he said,
"Sire ! These worthy archers may be asked to discharge volleys of their arrows at me. I assure you, their arrows will not touch me."
"Great king ! We are trained in archery. We are respectivel y a quick shot, a fixed shot, expert in following the course of sound with an arrow and expert in hitting at an arrow in motion. The prince
