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Being found seated on the knees of a Deva, there appears of itself a precious vessel filled with Heavenly food, partaking of which the new-born being grows in size like the rest of the Devas. They then enter the baths to wash ; after which the different kind of perfume trees bending down provide them with every kind of unguent for anoint- ing their bodies. Again, there are different kinds of kalpa > From til is account we gather that the four Kings symbolize the four Seasons, the sons of the four Kings the days of the year, and the twenty- eight ministers the days of the month. - Hence his figure is generally inserted at the end of Buddhist Sutras in China, to denote the useful office he discharges. 74 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST trees which produce garments, from which they can select every sort of robe to wear. Again, there are trees covered with ornaments, trees for hair-dressing, trees with vessels (for food, etc.), fruit trees, pleasure trees (or music trees) ; so that each Deva, according to his liking, may select what he pleases ; neither bound to go here nor there ; provided with endless sources of joy; their palaces surrounded by gar- dens and refreshing lakes of water: thus they pass their lives. The Hi-shai Sutra says : " At the time of being born among the four Kings, one^s appearance is like that of a child twelve years of age, seated on the knees or haunches of father or mother. As soon as one is thus born, suddenly there appears a precious vessel full of heavenly Suda (nectar or Soma) and Heavenly wine ; according to one^s degree of merit is the colour of the flesh, either white, or red, or black. Having partaken of the food and drink, the size of the body increases to the stature of full-grown men and women. THE KIND OF CONDUCT WHICH LEADS TO SUCH A BIETH. 6. The Hi-shai Sutra says : " Every one who has led a life (one life) of complete virtue, in body and speech and thought, at the time of death will be born in Heaven ; as the knowledge of this scene disappears, the knowledge of the superior condition begins to be experienced. Persons born in this condition are possessed of the same senses as they had in the world. If born as a man, they find themselves sitting on the knees of lovely women ; if born as women, they find themselves in the embrace of the heavenly Kings. Hence there is the same distinction there as here, of male and female.'^^ ^ This description of heavenly pleasures, according to Buddhist ideas, seems to illustrate tlie sculptures at Sauchi, given in j)lute xxxvii, figs. 1 and 2. Tree atul Serpent Worship. SCRIPTtlEES FROM THE CHINESE. 75 AN ACCOUNT OF THE THIRTY-THREE HEAVENS (tEAYASTRINSHAS). 7. The top of Sumeru in length and breadth is 84,000 yojanas. The level space in the midst of this area, which is fit for dwelhngs, is 40,000 yojanas. (The Vibasha Shaster.i The Nyayanousara Shaster^ says: ^'The thirty-three heavens are situated on the top of Mount Meru. Each face of this summit is 80,000 yojanas.'') Each of the four corners of the mountain-top has a peak 700 yojanas high. These peaks are ornamented with the seven precious substances — gold, silver, lapis-lazuh, crystal, cornelian, coral, ruby. (This is according to the In-pen Sutra. The Vibasha and the Nyayanousara Shaster say the peaks are 500 yojanas high.) There is a Yaksha spirit called Vadjrapani who keeps guard in the middle of this Heaven, to protect the Devas. On the top of the mountain is a great city called Belle-vue (Sudarsana), 10,000 yojanas in circuit. The storied gates are 1| yojanas high; there are 1,000 of these gates, fully adorned. Each gate has 500 blue-clad yakshas, holding a mace, and fully armed, keeping guard. In the very middle of all is the Golden city, 1,000 yojanas in circuit. (The Nyayanousara Shaster says "the superlatively beautiful pavi- hon is 1,000 yojanas round. The floor of it composed of pure gold interspersed with every kind of gem. The ground as soft as the Talas cotton, into which the foot sinks up to the ankle.'") The abode of Sakra rajah consists of a city with 500 gates, in the middle of which is a Palace (tower) called Vaijayanta.^ On each of the four sides are 100 towers, within each of which there are 1,700 chambers, each of which has seven Devis within it ; each of whom is attended by seven handmaidens. All these women are the wives of Sakra, with whom he consorts as he pleases, under different ^ Composed by IMauorhita. '- Composed by Vasoubaudhou. ' Vide Lai. Vist.^ p. 64, ii. 76 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST forms. (The Abidharma and Agaiiaas are in agreement.) The Honourable Maudgalyayana, after passing in succession throuo-h the various worlds of the small Chiliocosm, declared that there was no such beautiful abode as the Vaijayanta Palace. (The Samyouktagama.) Within the city are vari- ous streets of houses. The Devas, according to their degree of merit, occupy abodes therein^ few or many. There are 500 smaller streets, and also seven markets (bazaars), viz., the corn market, provision market, clothes market, perfume market, amusement market, artificers' market^ hair-dressing market ; over each of these bazaars is placed a managing officer; the Devas and Devis, coming and going as they please, make their purchases in these different marts; there are fixed rules established for conducting the business of these bazaars ; there is no payment without the goods are taken (lit. no taking, no giving) ; if the purchaser is agree- able to the fixed price, then he may take it and go. This is a description of Sudarsana city. But, moreovei', there are districts, departments, and hamlets belonging to the Devas, and surrounding the central city in every direction (the In- pen Sutra). These compose the thirty-three Heavens. The length and breadth of these various towns^ 60,000 yojanas ; they are surrounded by a sevenfold city wall, a sevenfold ornamental railing, a sevenfold row of tinkling curtains ; beyond these a sevenfold row of Talas trees. All these en- circle one another, and are of every colour intermingled, and composed of every precious substance. The city walls are 400 yojanas high, and 50 yojanas broad. The four faces of the city wall, moreover, are at intervals, 500 yojanas apart ; in the midst (of each face) is a ready-opening gate ; all the gates are 30 yojanas high, and 4 yojanas broad; these gates are provided with moveable towers (low-loo) and every kind of defensive implement ; whilst every sort of enjoyment and enchanting pleasure is provided for the occupants. Outside the city of Sudarsana, on each side of it, is a beauti- ful Park: the first is calked the Chariot Park, on the east side; the second is called the I*ark for athletic exercises, on the SCRIPTURES FROM THE CHINESE. 77 soiitli side ; the third is called the promiscuous forest Park, on the west side ; the fourth is called the sportive forest Park, on the North side. In each of these Parks is a Tower erected over the relics of Buddha, to wit — in the first, over his hair; in the second, over his garments; in the third, over his ashes ;^ in the fourth, over his tooth. Each park is 1,000 yojanas round ; and each is provided with a magic lake," fifty yojanas round, filled with water possess- ing the eight pecuhar excellencies. On the north-east of the city is a Yuen-shang tree,'^ the flower of which on open- ing emits a perfume which can be perceived at a distance of one hundred yojanas when the wind is fair, and even against the wind at a distance of fifty yojanas. On the south-west of the city is a Preaching Hall,'' where the thirtj^-three Devas hold religious discussions, and decide re- ligious questions. In the middle of this hall is a royal throne (siilhasana), on which Sakra seats himself, with sixteen Devas on either side, whilst flanking these on the right and left are the two Great Warriors. One of the four Kings keeps guard at each gate, to wit, on the eastern side Dhritarashtra with his chief minister Kwan-lu ; on the southern side Virudhaka ; on the western side Virupaksha ; on the northern side Vaisravana.