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III, 10. BIMBASÂRA RÂGA INVITES THE PRINCE.
115
(There he beheld) the green trees fringing with their shade the crags, the scented flowers growing between the intervals, whilst the peacocks and the other birds, joyously flying, mingled their notes; 796
His sacred garments bright and lustrous, (shone) as the sun-lit mulberry leaves; the messengers beholding his fixed composure, one by one (returning), reported what they had seen; 797
The king hearing it, was moved at heart, and forthwith ordered his royal equipment to be brought, his god-like crown and his flower-bespangled robes; then, as the lion-king, he strided forth, 798
And choosing certain aged persons of consideration, learned men, able calmly and wisely to discriminate, he (with them) led the way followed by a hundred thousand people, who like a cloud ascended with the king the royal mountain. 799
And now beholding the dignity of Bodhisattva, every outward gesture (spring of action) under government, sitting with ease upon the mountain crag?, as the moon shining limpid in the pure heavens, 800
So (was) his matchless beauty and purity of grace; then as the converting presence of religiondwelling within the heart makes it reverential, so (beholding him) he reverently approached, 801
Even as divine Sakara comes to the presence of
1 On the lofty abode of the mountain (peak).
* This expression is singular, it will bear no other translation than this,'the converting body (or, presence) of the law, i.e. religion. Or, causes reverence (on the part of the beholder).
I 2
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