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I, I.
THE BIRTH.
19
filled) with constant thought; (moreover) he issued decrees through the empire, to liberate all captives in prison, 115.
According to the custom when a (royal) son was born, giving the usual largess, in agreement with the directions of the Sacred Books, and extending his gifts to all; (or, all these things he did completely). 116
The child' when ten days old, (his father's) mind being now quite tranquil, he announced a sacrifice to all the gods, and prepared to give liberal offerings to all the religious bodies; 117
Srâmanas and Brahmanas invoked by their prayers a blessing from the gods, whilst he bestowed gifts on the royal kinspeople and the ministers and the poor within the country; 118
The women who dwelt in the city or the villages, (all those who needed) cattle or horses or elephants or money, each, according to his necessities, was liberally supplied; 119
Then selecting by divination a lucky time, they took the child back to his own palace, with a double-feeding white-pure-tooth, carried in a richlyadorned chariot (cradle), 120
With ornaments of every kind and colour round his neck; shining with beauty, exceedingly resplendent with unguents. The queen embracing
''Shing-tseu,' the born or begotten child.
I am unable to translate this line except literally, 'two-feeding white pure ivory (or, tooth),' 'rh fan pih tsing 'nga. [I am informed, however, by Professor Max Müller that it refers to the 'elephant.' The elephant is called dvipa, the twice-drinker, corresponding to 'rh fan (for 'rh yin), the double-feeder (drinker), in the Chinese.]
C 2
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