Lalit Vistara

Author(s): Rajendralala Mitra
Publisher: Asiatic Society

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LALITA-VISTARA.
Váyu, Arjuna of Indra, and Nakula and Sahadeva of the two Asvins. It is, therefore, unbecoming of the Bodhisattva."
Others observed," flere is the very charming city of Mithila, 27 the home of the royal Sumitra. The king has a mighty army of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers ; he is rich in gold both in ingots and in coins, precious stones, pearls, lapis-lazuli, conch-shells saniha), marbles, corals, silver, native and wrought, and all other objects of wealth; he himself is of undaunted might and vigour, well-allied and virtuous; his family is surely well worthy of the Bodhisattva."
"Not so," answered others. “The king, it is true, is well. allied and meritorious; but he is very old, unable to govern well his kingdom, and the parent of many children; his family, therefore, is uut a lit birthplace of the Bodhisattva."
Thus, o Bhikshukas, did the Devaputras and the Bodhisattvas examine all the sixteen great dynasties:2who reigned in the different countries of Jambudvípa, and proved them all defective. While thius perplexed, one of them of undeviating conduct, Jyá. naketuihvaja, liv namo, determined to ascertain the truth regarding the great translation (Maháyána), thus addressed the godly assembly of the Bodhisattvas : "Let us proceed, vencrable sirs, .to enquire of the Bodhisattva low qualified is the race in which the next-coming Bodhisattva will be born."
"Well said," they exclaimed, and, approaching the Bodhi. sattva, with jrined hands thus addressed : "Ilow qualified is that family of noble beings wherein the next-coming Bodhisattva should take bis birth ?"
The Boilhisattva, having observed the noble host of the Bodhisattvas and the Devas (who appeared before him), thus replicil"Sixty-four qualitios apportain to the family, venerable sirs, in which the next-coming Bodhisattva will make his app-carance."
"What are the sixty-four qualities pas
(1) "Such a family is highly intelligent, (2) neither moun nor tyrannical, (3) of a high caştas, (4) remarkable for having two