Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

1 8. 'It is the rule, brethren, that, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother's womb, the mother of the Bodhisat is a woman virtuous through her own nature : — averse from taking life, averse from taking what is not given, averse from unchastity, averse from

Seasons, of Life-germs, of Mind, and of the Dhamma. The last named is here implicated.

1 Asarhvuta. Cy. — not supported from beneath.

2 In the Great Inter-world Hell. They would be undergoing purgatory for karma of grievous offences against parents and the religious world, and of cruelty to animals. Very long in body and with bats' nails, they were condemned to crawl up the Cakkava/a rock, till finding no food, they turned back and fell into the river of brine flowing round the world. Cy.

IO XIV. MAHAPADANA SUTTANTA. D. ii. 12.

lying speech, averse from indulgence in strong drinks. That, in such a case, is the rule.

19. [13] ' It is the rule, brethren, that, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother's womb, that mother has no mind for indulgence in the pleasures of sense with men, and is incapable of transgression with any man whatever who may be enamoured of her. That, in such a case, is the rule.

20. 'It is the rule, brethren, that, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother's womb, that mother is living in the enjoyment yielded by the five senses, is addicted to it, possessed of it, surrounded by it. That, in such a case, is the rule.

21. ' It is the rule, brethren, that, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother's womb, no ailment whatsoever befalls that mother ; at ease is she and unafflicted in body ; and within her womb she sees the Bodhisat complete in the endowment of all his organs and his limbs. Just as if, brethren, there were a beautiful cat's-eye gem1, of purest water, octangular, cut with supreme skill, translucent and flawless, excellent in every way. And through it were strung a thread, blue or orange, red, white, or yellow. If a man who had eyes to see were to take it into his hand, he would clearly perceive how the one was strung on the other. Even so, brethren, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother's womb, no ailment whatever befalls that mother ; at ease is she and unaffected in body ; and within her womb she sees the Bodhisat complete in the endowment of all his organs and his limbs. That, in such a case, is the rule.

22. [14] ' It is the rule, brethren, that, on the seventh day after the birth of a Bodhisat, the mother of the

1 This simile, occurring in a similar connexion in M. Ill, 121, is elsewhere (' Dialogues,' I, 87 ; M. II, 17) applied to self-knowledge, i. e. of one's body and mind and their interdependence. The point of the simile is not the perfection of the jewel, but the clarity of vision. The myth of the visible embryo recurs in mediaeval Christian art. See Neumann, op. cit. ; and ' Buddhist Birth Stories,' p. 65 n.

D. ii. I!-;. THE SUBLIME STORY. II

'.)

Bodhisat dies, and rises again in the heaven of Delight.
That, in such a case, is the rule.

23. 'It is the rule, brethren, that, whereas other women bring forth after bearing either nine or ten months \ the mother of a Bodhisat brings not forth till she has borne the child ten months. That, in such a case, is the rule.

24. 'It is the rule, brethren, that, whereas other women bring forth sitting or reclining, the mother of a Bodhisat brings forth not so, but standing. That, in such a case, is the rule.'

25. ' It is the rule, brethren, that, when a Bodhisat issues from his mother's womb, gods receive him first, afterwards men 2. That, in such a case, is the rule.

26. 'It is the rule, brethren, that, when a Bodhisat issues from his mother's womb, and has not yet touched the earth, for four sons of the gods to receive him, and present him to the mother, saying : — " Rejoice, lady, for Mighty is the son that is born to thee ! " That, in such a case, is the rule.

27. 'It is the rule, brethren, that, when a Bodhisat issues from his mother's womb, he comes forth stainless, undefiled by watery matter, undefiled by mucus, undefiled by blood, undefiled by any uncleanness whatever, pure, spotless. Just as if, brethren, a jewel were laid down on Benares muslin ; the jewel is not stained by the muslin, nor is the muslin stained by it ; and why is that ? Because of the purity of both. Even so, brethren, is it at the birth of a Bodhisat. That, in such a case, is the rule.