Lalit Vistara

Author(s): Rajendralala Mitra
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 57

CHAPTER IV.
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CHAPTER IV. INITIATORY LIGIITS OF RELIGION.
Bodhisattva gives audience in the pavilion of Uchchadhvaja. He invites. Dovaputras. He takes his seat on a throne. The throne describod. His address to the congregation. One hundred and cight subjects on which Bodhisattva lectured before his descent from Tushita. Effoct of the announce. ment on the congregation. Gáthas in support of this narrativo.
Thus, Blikshus, the Bodhisattva, baving surveyed the family wherein he would appear, ascended the great Tushita pavilion of Uchchadhvaja, measuring 6 yojanas in ektent, whercin seated he had of yore instructed the gods of Tushita in religion. Having ascended the pavilion, he invited all the Devaputras of the class Tushitakáyika. " Approach, yc, and hear from him, who is about to cease to be a Boddhisattva, maxims of religion cognate to the descent."
On hearing these words all the Tushitakáyika Deyaputras, along with Apsarasas, assembled in the pavilion. There the Bodhisattva remained in the centre of a congregation of the extent of the earth with its four continents. He appeared iu beautiful colours, very showy, well-adorned, and very pleasing, while all the Devas, gods of the region of desire, (Kámávachara) and Devaputras of the region of semblance, (Rúpávachara,) made their abodes assume the name of cremation ground (smasána, i. e., they deserted them to be present before him). Then did he ascend on a throne, refulgent with the lustre of his noble deeds. Its feet were set with innumerable jewels. It was spread over with layers of flowers. It was redolent with varied perfumes and burning incenses. It was steeped in the aroma of beautiful flowers of various colours. It was emblazoned with the light of a thousand jewels. It was spread over with nets of costly texture wherein innumerable little bello tinkled in the breeze, and hundreds of thousands of larger ones,