English
By intoxicated women, proud of their fresh youth, Possessed the beauty of a lake in the mind. 7. Where the rays of imagined ornaments were like swarms of bees, The lines of teeth like flocks of herons, the streams of honey like rain, In that city, flocks of domestic peacocks, out of season, Were made to play by the streams of excellent elephants. 8. Where the dust raised by the herds of horses, Obstructed the red glow emanating from the rampart's wheel, And for a moment, created fear in the crowd descending into the streets, Like the flames of a blazing, destructive fire. In which the mansion's jeweled peaks, a chain of lights, Kissed the sun, conquered, a disc of turmeric, The lotus-like faces of women, their pride humbled, Seemed overcome by anger, changing color; Where lofty, white as Kailāsa's peak, delightful, Constantly renovated with nectar, Were dwellings like abodes of Lakkhī, Beautiful mansions; Where in the city, at the jeweled pavilion's peak, Made of sapphire, golden flags waved around, Like a mass of clouds, a hundred lightning flashes, Causing sorrow for separated lovers; Whose jeweled archways, with twilight's hue, Dispelled the darkness of all the citizens, That capital city caused great joy, And new delight for secret lovers at night; In which the lotus ponds had clear water, Their banks thick with moss and reeds, Blooming with red lotuses, blue lilies, and white water lilies, Delightful with flocks of swans and cranes gathering; In which city, to gain unparalleled beauty, The faces of noble women eagerly strove, Until the white lotus, the cool-rayed moon, Met with mutual resistance and perished; In which, with gold, crystal, silver, bronze, Pearls, coral, and other precious gems, Various shops were filled with fine silks, Muslin, hemp cloth, and wool; Armed with wheels, swords, tridents, bows, spears, clubs, and other weapons, Clad in golden armor, having conquered the enemy, Heroes, very brave in crossing the ocean of battle, Protected that excellent city; Near the gates of jeweled mansions, White as cotton cloth, like autumn clouds, In which, for a moment, like curtains, Protected the lotus faces of women from bees; Which was beautiful with well-arranged, deserted streets, With lofty mansions, constantly festive, Like the netherworld with the hoods of serpent kings, Spreading out, it was delightful; In which city, from the open windows of mansions, Dust blown up... With garlands of jasmine adorning their tresses, And faces like the moon in polished mirrors, They were like jewel-eyes reflected in the world. 20. With a deep, conch-like, drum-like, auspicious, and mighty sound, Like a mass of foam from Mount Kailasa's white abode, Which Lakshmi adorned, a full seven-jeweled, foremost milky ocean, With the speed of a horse's wave-like motion. 21. Darkened by the dust of pollen, blue like a row of clouds, Delighting in lotus flowers, with bees intoxicated by honey, Frequented by royal swans, descended into the world, The city was like a blooming lotus grove. 22. In that city, with jewels gleaming and throats of blue, As if passion had subdued the earth, with rows of birds chirping, With heavy breasts and densely populated regions, The women were like days of abundant rainfall. 23. For those devoted to practicing the Dhamma and its essence, A refuge from Saṃsāra, like a hermitage, That capital city, for the ignorant masses, Was like a tavern, in both ways. 24. For the Buddha-seed, the sun-line's illuminator, A suitable land for experiencing true happiness, O, like Kapilavatthu, the city of old, May it now reveal the nature of the Dhamma. 25. In that city, the king of kings, Was King Suddhodana, skilled in the four virtues, Always delighting all people with righteousness, Born of Suddhodana, the banner of the sun-line. 26. Seeing his immaculate and most excellent form, As if longing for the lotus of the lotus-lord, The lotus-feet, revered by the rulers of the earth, Were served by that king, the banner of the sun-line. 27. Whose earth-ruling poet, the ornament of poets' throats, The goddess of speech, with sweet, gentle, and skillful words, Having reached the lotus grove of the four-faced one's mouth, Adorned it like a swan adorning the lotus lake of Manasa. 28. Having subdued the pride of all enemies, with unsurpassed unity, And easily conquered internal foes, With a mind purified and sharpened on the touchstone, That king slew them with the weapon of wisdom. 29. From whom, the great king, the mountain of the earth, with indifference, The shore was bounded by the waters of compassion. Puṇṇā, Compassion flowing, source of joy, pure smile, Flooded the triple world, a torrent of beings. 30. Whose mind, a lake of supreme generosity, Rich with clouds of perfect giving, The shores of craving, for wretched, needy beggars, Were broken by a shower of seven gems. 31. Whose eyes were indigo, teeth silver-white, Face golden, lips coral-red, Limbs adorned with pearls, body with various jewels, As if fashioned by the Creator himself. (Bond of virtue) 32. Whose exceedingly white fame, like the moon, Gathered in a single face, the lake of enemy kings, Destroyed the darkness of sorrow, for the armies of foes, And encircled the earth to the ocean's edge. 33. The swarm of royal bees, all eager For the honeyed essence of sovereignty in every land, Served with devotion the lotus-like, blossoming Beautiful feet of his very being. 34. Making the white parasol like a heap of famous virtues, And the sword like the terrible fire of the sun, Under whom, ruling justly, the remaining kings Stood with parasols and swords, like mere servants. 35. Though the doors were opened to countless wretched beggars Unceasingly, in the treasure houses, Intent on protecting the seven noble treasures, such as faith, That lord of Kapilavatthu closed the three doors. 36. Whose tall, strong bow, scattering a rain of arrows, Bearing the poison of destruction to the powerful host of foes, Turned to ashes the elephant-trunk-like, stout arms, A serpent with flickering tongue, its bowstring hissing. 37. Born from the ocean of the city, a treasure of wealth, Surrounded by a mountain range of wise counsel, Even a hair's breadth of royal splendor, Could not be shaken by the wind of anger in the land of foes. 38. The fire of anger, which reduced to ashes the forest of hostile kings, Though fanned by the wind of passion, Was extinguished by the tears flowing From the trembling eyes of the enemy women. 39. A lamp of wisdom, lit by the path of good counsel, Whose fame whitened the world, Whose feet were adorned with jewels on the crowns of kings, Righteously ruling the kingdom. Long did he reign as king. 40. Her breasts were full and round like lovely water pots, Her waist was slender, burdened by their heavy weight, Her cheeks were fair like the spotless orb of the young sun, Her beauty shone, surpassing even celestial nymphs. 41. Her eyes were clear and blue like blooming lotuses, Her jeweled earrings swayed from her long ears, Her teeth were like a string of pearls, her gait like a graceful swan, Her voice was gentle, charming, and sweet. 42. Her lips were red, her hair abundant and dark, Her face, a moonlike orb, like a golden mirror, Her lovely shanks resembled unopened flower buds, Her feet were red as the auspicious stone slab of Kāmadeva. 43. A line of fine, dark hair like a dark blue mālatī creeper, Wound gracefully above her navel, Her arms, like waves of beauty's ocean, were dark blue, Her eyebrows were like the bow of the fish-bannered god. 44. Like a bee on the lotus pond of the royal lineage, Like a goddess of illusion, well-born, of good character, Like moonlight to the moon, like lightning to a cloud, She was the king's beloved queen, of most charming conduct. 45. In that city, in that mansion like a mountain peak, The Āsāḷhi festival was celebrated day and night, With fragrant garlands and the finest perfumes, free from intoxicants, Queen Māyā enjoyed the constellation festival. 46. Rising on the seventh day, the full moon day, In the morning, with water scented with perfumes, Having bathed, she gave alms to the needy, Spending four hundred thousand coins. 47. Clad in fine, well-made garments, Having eaten choice food, observing the Uposatha vows, Feeling sleepy, she entered her chamber, And lying on her royal bed, she saw a blessed dream. 48. Having carried her, lying on her bed, to the Himalayan slopes, Beneath a broad and lofty sal tree, On a sixty-league-wide, beautiful slab of red arsenic, Four deva kings raised her up. 49. Having taken her there to remove human impurity, And bathed her in the Anotatta lake, The goddesses quickly adorned her With divine garments, perfumes, and flowers. 50. There, in the womb of a golden mansion, On the silver peak that shone, On the divinely made, fine headrest, They laid her on the well-prepared, excellent bed. 51. Descending in the guise of a noble, excellent elephant king, The Buddha-seed, from a beautiful golden mountain, Ascending the well-prepared, excellent earth, With his trunk, raising a white lotus. 52. Reaching the aerial chariot, the grove, roaring, Making circumambulation, the adorned mother's bed, Breaking through her right side, He seemed to enter her womb in a dream. 53. In the womb of Queen Māyā, of beautiful face, On the full moon of Āsāḷha, under the northern Āsāḷha star, The Buddha-seed, with the first great result- Consciousness, took rebirth in the womb. 54. For the Buddha-seed, reborn in the womb, And for Māyā, of virtuous conduct, with sword in hand, To ward off all misfortunes, protection Was taken by the four sons of the great kings. 55. From then on, for Māyā, devoted to her husband, No lustful thoughts arose in men, She, enjoying the five sensual pleasures, with tireless body, Was greatly increased by gain, glory, and fame. 56.