English
The translation is by Colonel Bumey, who transmitted to the Bengal Asiatic Society a translation of the report made by the vakeels to the king, " together witn a copy of a picture representing the peepul (b<5) tree and the surrounding scenery, made by a Burmese painter in the suite of the vakeels." A fac-simile of the inscription appears in the Researches, but the picture is not given. The vakeels write to the king thus : — " Proposing to invite a piece from the western branch of Boodh's excellent tree, to proceed to Uie Burmese kingdom, to the spot where religion shines and the protector of religion dwells, your majesty's slave Mengyee Maha-tsee-thoo, walked round the tree from right to left, and poured out some rose water, when owing to the great virtues of your majesty, worthy to be styled protector of religion, your slave beheld within the brick platform of five gradations, which surround the body of the tree as high up as the branches strike off, what was wonderful, having never happened before, most curious and most excellent, and what contradicts the common saying, that a small peepul tree does not grow under a large one ; it was a Boodh's adorable tree, of the size of a Chinese needle, with only four leaves, and evidently produced by and of the same constituent part as the (large) Boodh's excellent tree. Delighted with joy, your majesty's slave repeated his solemn appeal, and C4iref uUy gathered this plant. It is growing iD your slave's possession, but in consequence of the stem and leaves being very tender, it cannot now be forwarded to your majesty." The 1'unior envoy says in his journal. " The principal guardian of the tree, Mu- lunt Jogee, told us that the English chief has given him 27 villages con- tiguous to Boodh's tree, and that he lives on the revenue derivable from the same. He occupies a three-storied brick house, with all his disciples and subordinate jogees, living in the lower and uppermost portions of it. On asking him how many disciples and followers he had, he said upwards of 500, some near him and some at a distance. . . . The circumference of Boodh's tree, on a line with the top of the encircling brick platform of five gradations, which forms its throne, and is 35 cubits high, measured 19 cubits and 10 fingers' breadth. The tree rises 44 cubits above the brick platform. From the top of the tree to the terrace on the ground, on the eastern side, may be 80 cubits, or a little more only ; apparently the boughs and small branches, which once grew upwards, have in consequence of the great age of the tree spread out laterally, and this is the reason why the present height of the tree does not correspond with that mentioned in the scriptures." — Col. H. Bumey, Asiatic Researches, vol. xx. vn. LEGENDS OF g<5tama budha. 175 the spot where they' to ached the ground, the earth opened, and hj the power of his pdramitds a throne arose, 14 cubits high, the roots of the grass being hid^ whilst the blades appeared as a beautiful canopy, wrought by the skill of a clever workman. At the sight of this throne, the prince rejoiced ; and when he sat down upon it, he was animated by the utmost courage. The d^was and brahmas, knowing that this was the day of the great triumph of the Budha, came from the 10,000 sakwalas that they might witness his battle and victory. 4. The Contest with Wasawartti Mdra, The d^wa Wasawartti-mdra* reflected thus : — This is the day on which Sidhartta will become Budha ; but I must go and endea- vour to prevent it ; I have been trying for the space of six years to overcome him, but have not been able ; if this opportunity be lost, no other will be presented.'' He then struck the great drum called Wasawartti-gh6s&, and all the d^was and brahmas, on hearing its sound, trembled with fear and shut their eyes ; but to the prince it was as the rolling of the timbili drum, struck in seasons of festivity. It was a sign to him that Mara would come to do battle ; and as he knew who would be the con- queror, and that by this means his prowess would be proclaimed to the world, he sat in peace, undistnrbed. When the retinue of Mara heard the sound of the drum, they concluded that their lord was about to fight some battle, and therefore gathered around him, all carrying weapons. The dewa mounted his ele- phant, Girimekhala, 150 yojnnas high, and as he knew that he would not be able to conquer with one weapon alone, he made unto himself 500 heads, with 1000 red eyes, and 500 flaming tongues ; he had also 1000 arms, in each of which was a weapon, * Wasawartti M&ra is the ruler of the sixth d^wa-]($ka. No reason is assigned for his opposition to Budha, hut the fear that hy his discourses many beings would attain the blessedness of the brahma-l<5kas and the priyi- lege of nirwina, which would prevent the re-peopling of the inferior world in which he reigned, when the d^was then inhabiting it had fulfilled their period of residence. There can be no doubt that tlie whole history of this battle was at first an allegorical description of an enlightened mind struggling with the power of evil. It may refer to some reality experienced by Gotama, when in the solitude of the wilderness he was led to feel the ''accusing thoughts" of which the apostle speaks, and to seek the attainment of a higher and better state of mind. M&ra is called by Csoma KOrOsi, ** K&ma-deva, or the god of pleasures." 176 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. and yet no two of these weapons were alike. As he knew that the task he had undertaken wonld be difficult to accomplish, from the power and wisdom of his opponent, he concluded that it would be better not to approach him in front, lest he should be seen from afar, and the mind of the prince be prepared for the attack ; it might be that if he approached from behind and made a noise^ Sidh^rtt^ would look to see what was the matter, which would be the proper moment in which to seize him. He therefore proceeded stealthily to the western side of the sakwala- gala. The army that accompanied him extended on every side 164 miles, and its weight was sufficient to overpoise the earth. No two of the warriors had the same appearance ; they assumed the most frightful forms, appearing like lions, tigers, panthers, boars, bears, buffaloes, bulls, n4gas, garundas, polongas, and pimburas, all with hideous faces ; the snakes stretched out their necks ; other animals tore up trees by the roots ; they rolled round their heads, struck each other as if in mortal combat, made mouths in the middle of their bodies, from which they put out their tongues and caused dirty saliva to exude^ chased each other hither and thither, manifested various kinds of evil dis- positions, brought teri'or upon all who saw them, and extended themselves from the sakwala-gala to the b<5-tree, without any intermediate vacancy. When the d^was heard the noise of the army as it approached the tree, they all fled from the 10,000 sakwalas. Kiland, who had come to dance in the presence of the prince, and sing hymns in his praise, accompanied by 60,000 n^gas, descended 8000 miles into the interior of the earth, to the naga-16ka, Manjarika, on arriving at which he covered his face with both hands, and cried out, " Alas ! the glory of Sidhirtta will this day be extin- guished !" and having said this, he fell flat upon his couch, with his face downwards. Then the Sekras of the 10,000 sakwalas threw down the shells that they held in their hands, and fled away ; but Sujampati, the Sekra of our own favoured sakwala, because he was bom here, and had the power resulting from great merit, and was moreover very courageous, did not leave his place ; nor did he throw down his shell ; mounting to the summit of the sakwala-gala, he stood looking towards the bd- tree. Thus also the Sujdmii and Santusita d6was of the 10,000 sakwalas, throwing down whatever they had in their hands, fled Vn. LEGENDS OF G(5TAMA budha. 177 away. The Saliampati Maha Bralimas of the 10,000 sakwalas fled away in like manner, after they had stuck their umbrellas, like so many moons, upon the summit of the sakwala-gala. When the prince perceived that all the d^was had fled, without any exception, he still remained unmoved as the rock Maha Merd, and fearless as the king of the lions when he sees a herd of elephants.