________________
CHAPTER VII.
141
region !" Then rising from his seat, and joining his hands, be fell at the feat of the Bodhisattva, circumambulated his person, and, then taking him on his hands, sat in contemplation. He saw that the Bodhisattva baul the thirty-two signs of greatness, which indicate for the bearer one of two carcers, and no other. Should ho remain at home lo hecomes a sovereign, possessing the fourfold army, and other attributes as described above. Should be, forsaking urban life and retire to a hermitage, he would become a Tatbágata of great renown and a perfect Buddha. Buholding bin' thus, the sago cried much, shed profuso tears, and sighed deeply.
King S'udlhodana, seeing that the sage ins greatly agitated, horripilated, crying, shedding tears, and beaving sighs, hurably askel hiin, “why do you cry? why do you sled tears? wlay do you heayo deep siglis? May no ovil befal the Prince !"
Asita replied, “I cry not, ( Mubárája, for the sake of the Prince, nor is any evil to beful him. I cry on my own account."
"And what is the reason of it?"
"I am, Michárája, an old, emaciated ortogenarian. The prince Sarvárthasiddha is sure to acquire the sequenceloss perfect kuowledge, and, acquiring it, he will turn the wheel of the never-to-be-equalled religion, which cannot be turned by any S'ramana, or Brálmana, ur Deva, or Mára, or any other with the samo religion. He will impart religion for the good and gratification of all buings, including gous. lle will expound the religion which is auspicious at the beginning, auspicious at the middle, and auspicious at the end, of good purport, well arranged, umequalled, complete, perfectly pure, wellenvironed, includes Brahmacharya, and ends in virtue. Those, who follow religins by hearing it from us, will throw aside åll twimmels of caste, and be free from decay, disease, death, grief, lamentation, pain, mclancholy, injury, nnd labour. By raining the water of true religion the Prince will gladden the hearts of those who are oppressel- by the Rite of passion, envy, and delusion. He will bring to the straight path of nirvána those wicked persons of vicious motives who are