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Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1It is the same case with the Tathagata, who but lately has arrived at supreme, perfect enlightenment, and with these Bodhisattvas Maha- XIV. ISSUING OF BODHISATTVAS. 295 sattvas, so immense in number, who for many hundred thousand myriads of kofis of Eons, having observed a spiritual course of life, have long since come to certainty in regard to Tathagata-knowledge ; who are able to plunge in and again rise from the hundred thousand sorts of meditation’; who are adepts at the preparatories to noble transcendent wisdom, have accomplished the preparatories to noble transcendent wisdom?; who are clever on the Buddha-ground, able in the (ecclesiastical) Council and in Tathagata duties; who are the wonder? and admiration of the world; who are possessed of great vigour, strength, and power. And the Lord says: From the very beginning have I roused, brought to maturity, fully developed them to be fit for this Bodhisattva position. Itis I who have displayed this energy and vigour after arriving at supreme, perfect enlightenment. But, O Lord, how can we have faith in the words of the Tathagata, when he says: The Tathagata speaks infallible truth? The Tathagata must know that the Bodhisattvas who have newly entered the vehicle are apt to fall into doubt on this head; after the extinction of the Tathagata those who hear this Dharmaparydya will not accept, not believe, not trust it. Hence, O Lord, they will design acts tending to the ruin of the law. Therefore, O Lord, deign to explain us this matter, that we may be free from perplexity, and that the Bodhisattvas who in future shall hear it, be they young 1 Sam&dhimukhasatasahasrasam4padyanavyutthanakusalah. I suppose that for mukha, point, principal point, side, face, we have to read sukha, ecstasy. 2 Mahabhig#Aparikarmaniryat4 mah&bhigakr:taparikarm4nah. * Panditd Buddhabhimau sangitikusalaz, Tathagatadharmazam. 296 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. XIV. men of good family or young ladies, may not fall into doubt. On that occasion the Bodhisattva Mahdsattva Maitreya addressed the Lord with the following stanzas : 44. When thou wert born in Kapilavastu, the home of the SAkyas, thou didst leave it and reach enlightenment at the town of Gay4’. That is a short time ago, O Lord of the world. 45. And now thou hast so great a crowd of followers, these sages who for many ko¢is of A®ons have fulfilled their duties, stood firm in magic power, unshaken, well disciplined, accomplished in the might of wisdom ; 46. These, who are untainted as the lotus is by water ; who to-day have flocked hither after rending the earth, and are standing all with joined hands, respectful and strong in memory, the sons of the Master of the world*. 47. How will these Bodhisattvas believe this great wonder? Expel (all) doubt, tell the cause, and show how the matter really is.
247. How will these Bodhisattvas believe this great wonder? Expel (all) doubt, tell the cause, and show how the matter really is. 1 The succint form in which the events of the legendary life of the Sakya prince are told is remarkable, especially if we bear in mind that the first going out (nishkramaza) of a young boy (kum Ara) usually takes place four months after his birth; the rite of ‘giving rice food,’ annapr4sana, takes place in the sixth month ; this rite has its counterpart in Sug4ta’s providing Gautama with milk porridge and honey. Another rite, that of shaving the hair with the exception of a tuft on the crown, the 4Ad4karman, commonly follows the annaprasana; in the case of Gautama, however, it is represented to be subsequent on the kum 4ra having left his home. In so far as he cut off his hair at the time of his entering a spiritual life, the act agrees with the AQdakarman at the upanayana or initiation of boys. * Lokadhipatisya putra4. XIV. ISSUING OF BODHISATTVAS, 297 48. It is as if there were some man, a young man with black hair, twenty years old or somewhat more, who presented as his sons some centenarians, 49. And the latter, covered with wrinkles and grey-haired, declared the (young) man to be their father. But such (a young man) never having sons of such appearance, it would be difficult to believe, O Lord of the world, that they were sons to so young a man. 50. In the same manner, O Lord, we are unable to conceive how these numerous Bodhisattvas of good memory and excelling in wisdom, who have been well instructed during thousands of kotis of Eons ; 51. Who are firm, of keen intelligence, lovely and agreeable to sight, free from hesitation in the decisions on law, praised by the Leaders of the world; 52. Who in freedom live in the wood!; who unattached in the element of ether constantly display their energy, who are the sons of Sugata striving after this Buddha-ground ; 53. Howwill this be believed when the Leader of the world shall be completely extinct ? After hearing it from the Lord’s own mouth we shall never more feel any doubt. 54. May Bodhisattvas never come to grief by having doubt on this head. Grant us, O Lord, a truthful account how these Bodhisattvas have been brought to maturity by thee. 1 Vane, which, especially in the more ancient language, also means a cloud, the region of clouds. 298 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. XV. CHAPTER XV. DURATION OF LIFE OF THE TATHAGATA.
3Grant us, O Lord, a truthful account how these Bodhisattvas have been brought to maturity by thee. 1 Vane, which, especially in the more ancient language, also means a cloud, the region of clouds. 298 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. XV. CHAPTER XV. DURATION OF LIFE OF THE TATHAGATA. Thereupon the Lord addressed the entire host of Bodhisattvas: Trust me, young men of good family, believe in the Tathagata speaking a veracious word. A second time the Lord addressed the Bodhisattvas: Trust me, young gentlemen of good family, believe in the Tathagata speaking a veracious word. A third and last time the Lord addressed the Bodhisattvas: Trust me, young men of good family, believe in the Tathagata speaking a veracious word. Then the entire host of Bodhisattvas with Maitreya, the Bodhisattva Mahdsattva at their head, stretched out the joined hands and said to the Lord: Expound this matter, O Lord; expound it, O Sugata ; we will believe in the word of the Tathagata. A second time the entire host, &c. &c. A third time the entire host, &c. &c. The Lord, considering that the Bodhisattvas repeated their prayer up to three times, addressed them thus: Listen then, young men of good family. The force of a strong resolve which I assumed? is such, young men of good family, that this world, including gods, men, and demons, acknowledges : Now has the Lord Sakyamuni, after going out from the home of the Sakyas, arrived at supreme, perfect enlightenment, on the summit of the terrace of ' Or, the power of supremacy which forms my attribute, mam adhishshanabaladhanam. XV. DURATION OF LIFE OF THE TATHAGATA. 299
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1It is the same case with the Tathagata, who but lately has arrived at supreme, perfect enlightenment, and with these Bodhisattvas Maha- XIV. ISSUING OF BODHISATTVAS. 295 sattvas, so immense in number, who for many hundred thousand myriads of kofis of Eons, having observed a spiritual course of life, have long since come to certainty in regard to Tathagata-knowledge ; who are able to plunge in and again rise from the hundred thousand sorts of meditation’; who are adepts at the preparatories to noble transcendent wisdom, have accomplished the preparatories to noble transcendent wisdom?; who are clever on the Buddha-ground, able in the (ecclesiastical) Council and in Tathagata duties; who are the wonder? and admiration of the world; who are possessed of great vigour, strength, and power. And the Lord says: From the very beginning have I roused, brought to maturity, fully developed them to be fit for this Bodhisattva position. Itis I who have displayed this energy and vigour after arriving at supreme, perfect enlightenment. But, O Lord, how can we have faith in the words of the Tathagata, when he says: The Tathagata speaks infallible truth? The Tathagata must know that the Bodhisattvas who have newly entered the vehicle are apt to fall into doubt on this head; after the extinction of the Tathagata those who hear this Dharmaparydya will not accept, not believe, not trust it. Hence, O Lord, they will design acts tending to the ruin of the law. Therefore, O Lord, deign to explain us this matter, that we may be free from perplexity, and that the Bodhisattvas who in future shall hear it, be they young 1 Sam&dhimukhasatasahasrasam4padyanavyutthanakusalah. I suppose that for mukha, point, principal point, side, face, we have to read sukha, ecstasy. 2 Mahabhig#Aparikarmaniryat4 mah&bhigakr:taparikarm4nah. * Panditd Buddhabhimau sangitikusalaz, Tathagatadharmazam. 296 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. XIV. men of good family or young ladies, may not fall into doubt. On that occasion the Bodhisattva Mahdsattva Maitreya addressed the Lord with the following stanzas : 44. When thou wert born in Kapilavastu, the home of the SAkyas, thou didst leave it and reach enlightenment at the town of Gay4’. That is a short time ago, O Lord of the world. 45. And now thou hast so great a crowd of followers, these sages who for many ko¢is of A®ons have fulfilled their duties, stood firm in magic power, unshaken, well disciplined, accomplished in the might of wisdom ; 46. These, who are untainted as the lotus is by water ; who to-day have flocked hither after rending the earth, and are standing all with joined hands, respectful and strong in memory, the sons of the Master of the world*. 47. How will these Bodhisattvas believe this great wonder? Expel (all) doubt, tell the cause, and show how the matter really is.
247. How will these Bodhisattvas believe this great wonder? Expel (all) doubt, tell the cause, and show how the matter really is. 1 The succint form in which the events of the legendary life of the Sakya prince are told is remarkable, especially if we bear in mind that the first going out (nishkramaza) of a young boy (kum Ara) usually takes place four months after his birth; the rite of ‘giving rice food,’ annapr4sana, takes place in the sixth month ; this rite has its counterpart in Sug4ta’s providing Gautama with milk porridge and honey. Another rite, that of shaving the hair with the exception of a tuft on the crown, the 4Ad4karman, commonly follows the annaprasana; in the case of Gautama, however, it is represented to be subsequent on the kum 4ra having left his home. In so far as he cut off his hair at the time of his entering a spiritual life, the act agrees with the AQdakarman at the upanayana or initiation of boys. * Lokadhipatisya putra4. XIV. ISSUING OF BODHISATTVAS, 297 48. It is as if there were some man, a young man with black hair, twenty years old or somewhat more, who presented as his sons some centenarians, 49. And the latter, covered with wrinkles and grey-haired, declared the (young) man to be their father. But such (a young man) never having sons of such appearance, it would be difficult to believe, O Lord of the world, that they were sons to so young a man. 50. In the same manner, O Lord, we are unable to conceive how these numerous Bodhisattvas of good memory and excelling in wisdom, who have been well instructed during thousands of kotis of Eons ; 51. Who are firm, of keen intelligence, lovely and agreeable to sight, free from hesitation in the decisions on law, praised by the Leaders of the world; 52. Who in freedom live in the wood!; who unattached in the element of ether constantly display their energy, who are the sons of Sugata striving after this Buddha-ground ; 53. Howwill this be believed when the Leader of the world shall be completely extinct ? After hearing it from the Lord’s own mouth we shall never more feel any doubt. 54. May Bodhisattvas never come to grief by having doubt on this head. Grant us, O Lord, a truthful account how these Bodhisattvas have been brought to maturity by thee. 1 Vane, which, especially in the more ancient language, also means a cloud, the region of clouds. 298 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. XV. CHAPTER XV. DURATION OF LIFE OF THE TATHAGATA.
3Grant us, O Lord, a truthful account how these Bodhisattvas have been brought to maturity by thee. 1 Vane, which, especially in the more ancient language, also means a cloud, the region of clouds. 298 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. XV. CHAPTER XV. DURATION OF LIFE OF THE TATHAGATA. Thereupon the Lord addressed the entire host of Bodhisattvas: Trust me, young men of good family, believe in the Tathagata speaking a veracious word. A second time the Lord addressed the Bodhisattvas: Trust me, young gentlemen of good family, believe in the Tathagata speaking a veracious word. A third and last time the Lord addressed the Bodhisattvas: Trust me, young men of good family, believe in the Tathagata speaking a veracious word. Then the entire host of Bodhisattvas with Maitreya, the Bodhisattva Mahdsattva at their head, stretched out the joined hands and said to the Lord: Expound this matter, O Lord; expound it, O Sugata ; we will believe in the word of the Tathagata. A second time the entire host, &c. &c. A third time the entire host, &c. &c. The Lord, considering that the Bodhisattvas repeated their prayer up to three times, addressed them thus: Listen then, young men of good family. The force of a strong resolve which I assumed? is such, young men of good family, that this world, including gods, men, and demons, acknowledges : Now has the Lord Sakyamuni, after going out from the home of the Sakyas, arrived at supreme, perfect enlightenment, on the summit of the terrace of ' Or, the power of supremacy which forms my attribute, mam adhishshanabaladhanam. XV. DURATION OF LIFE OF THE TATHAGATA. 299
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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