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148
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(June, 1880.
answered "Manava! we dwell here in order to benefit living creatures, practising all kinds of austerities." He then enquired further : "I also with the saine desire to benefit all living creatures am come here to reside and to suffer all kinds of painful austerities." Then that youth passed on to different places amid the forest glades, making the earth his dwelling place (living in holes ?) and whilst thus practising himself in religions austerities, he obtained, in virtue of his meritorious conduct, the eyes of a Deva (heavenly sight). Then looking round about on the place and its neighbourhood, not far off he saw a tigress who dwelt there, and just about to bring forth her young. Then the youth having observed this, began to think thus with himself: "this tigress not long hence will bring forth her yourg, and having done so, then perhaps she will die of hunger, or in lier famished state desire to eat her young." Having thought thus he then returned and asked the two Brâhmans, and said, "Which of you will divide his body, and give it in food to this tigress P" They answered him: "Neither of us is ready to divide his body for food to give the tigress." Having received this reply, after seven days the tigress was delivered, and having brought forth her young she carried them in her mouth to the den, and agnin came out. The youth having observed this proceeding forthwith went to the place where the two Rishis dwelt, and addressed them thus: “Great Rishis, the tigress has brought forth her young: if now ye indeed seek to benefit all that lives, and for this purpose are suffering austerities-now is your opportunity-ye may now cut up your
body, and give your flesh to the tiger-mother to eat." On this those two Brâhman Rishis immediately went to the place where the tigress was, and having come they began to think thus-" who can patiently endure such pain as this in practising charity ? Who can cut off the flesh from his body that he loves to give to a starving tiger P"Having reflected thus, that newly delivered tiger-mother began to follow them at a distance, seeing which they were filled with fear, and mounting into the air, flew away.
At this time the Mänava youth looking around him spoke to those Brahmans, and said: "Is this your vow and your oath P" Having said this he forthwith vowed, and said: "I now give my body to feed this tiger-oh would that in consequence of this sacrifice I may obtain the unsurpassed and perfect condition of being." Having made this vow, he took a knife, and himself cut flesh from his body, and gave it in charity to the tiger mother! “And now, Oh Bhikshus, entertain no doubt in your minds, it is from compassion to you that I declare this-look no further, but accept my words-it was I who was born in Padma as that Silver-colour who cut off her breasts to rescue and save that child who was no other than Rahula. It was I who gave my body in that Sitavana to feed the birds. It was I who cut off my flesh to feed that hungry tiger, whilst you were the Brahmans, and because of my self-denying charity in bearing sorrow for others, I have now attained Perfection of Being.".
The Bhikshus hearing these words were filled with great joy and exulted mightily."
SUCCESSION OF BUDDHIST PATRIARCHS.
BY REV. S. BEAL, B.A. It is well known that there is an assumed chronological data. The following account is Buccession of Teachers who presided over the compiled chiefly from Taranatha's History of Buddhist Church from the death of the Founder, Buddha, and some Chinese fragments scattered down to Bodhidharma, the last and through various books :twenty-eighth in the succession, who flourished 1 1. Sakya Buddha. in South India about 525 A.D. The list of these 1 2. Kasyapa, presided over the Church for Patriarchs is preserved with some degree of ten years, Wassilief, Bouddhisme, $ 42. accuracy on Chinese and Thibetan works, and 3. Ananda, presided for forty years. it is possible that a complete examination of the 4. Sanakavasa, or Sanavasika; he lived at subject might result in establishing some useful Sravasti and at Varanasi ; at this time the
• The Swi Jataka is pictured in Care XVI. at Ajanta, and perhaps another version also in Cave IX.; they are much injered in both cases, but appear to agree more
closely with the Sinhalese form of the Jataka, than the Chinese. The latter however may throw light on these and perhaps other wall paintings at Ajent&.- ED.
