________________
232
dára, etc. Divi ne melodies were sung. In all the four directions, eight types of instruments totalling 68, 00, 000 in all were playing. Moving with exceptional good look, in course of a single night, the Bodhi-sattva passed through three kingdoms, šākya, Koliya and Rāmagrāma, leaving them behind. He covered a distance of 30 yojanas and reached the bank of a river named Anomā.
Kant ha ka was a very powerful horse. Setting out in the morning, he could trample under his hoof the central circle of i cakravāla, like a circle trampled on the ground, trot at all the points on it and come back to his original position in time for his mid-day meal. But during this night, he could cover only 30 yojanas and there was suffici ent reason for that. For, the gods had showered so many flowers and so much of other stuff that he was buried upto his hips. It was for this reason that his speed had been very much slowed down, and every time he took a step, he had to make a tremendous effort.
Initiation into monkhoad - Standing on the bank of the river, the Bodhi -sattva enqui red what the name of the river was.
"Anomā", said Chanda ka.
Thought the Bodhi-sattva at once, "Ano mā - na avam. Then my initiation too cannot be in vain.'
At once, he directed the horse with his heel, and at on jump, the horse reached the other bank of the river which was as much as 8 7 şabhas (1 rşab ha= 140 cubits) in width. The Bodhi-sattva alighted from the horse and stood on the sandy bank which was silvery (in hue) and soft like silk. Adressing Chanda ka, he said,
"Saumya.' Chanda ka! You take my ornaments and Kantha ka back home. I am going to be initiated."
Chanda ka - "Deva! I shall follow thee. I intend to be in itiated." Very distinctly did the Bodhi-sattva say,
"You cannot be initiated. Get back, as I say."
