English
In the family of Meda were five persons possessed of great merit from actions done in former births; viz., the merchant, his daughter Chandrapadumd, his son Dhananja, his daughter-in-law Sumana, and his secretary Punnaka. When Wis4kh4, daughter, of Dhananja and Sumana, ^as about seven years of age, Budha visited the village of Bhaddi, in Anga. On his approach to the village, Meda directed Dhananja to send his daughter to meet him, with a retinue of 500 maidens of the same age in chariots. Though so young, Wisikha received this commaitd with great joy ; but when near the sage, she thought it more respectful to descend from her chariot and walk. When Budha saw her he knew that from the merit she possessed she would become the mother of his lay disciples, or his principal female disciple ; and he thei'efore preached the dharmma, by which she and her 500 maidens entered the first of the paths. The next day Meda attained the same privilege from hearing bana, and gave alms to Budha and his priests during two weeks. After this Budha returned to the wihdra of J^tawana. YU, LEGENDS OF G<5TAMA BUDIIA. 227 At this tune the yonnger sister of Pas^-nadi, king of Kosol, was the principal qaeen of Bimsara ; and the younger sister of Bimsara was the principal qneen of Pase-nadi. The king of Kosol thought that as there were many rich merchants in Rajagaha, he would request him to send one of them to reside in Kosol. After consulting with his nobles, Bimsara said that as it would be difficult to prevail upon one of the merchants of the first class to go, he would speak to Dhananja, who did not belong to the superior grade. When Dhananja was called into the royal presence for this purpose, he said that he was ready to go, if commanded by the king. This merchant therefore ac- companied the king of Kosol on his return; and on their journey they arrived in the evening at an open space where four ways met. Dhananja having asked the king how large his city was, learnt that it was seven yojanas in size; but on hearing this, he said it would be difficult for his large retinue to find accommodation in such a city, and he therefore requested permission to remain in the spot where they then were, without proceeding further. The king acceded to this request, and remained there three or four days with his attendants to assist in forming places of shelter, after which ho went forward to Sewet. This place was called Sak6tu, from having' been their evening resting-place, and Dhananja was appointed its chief. There was in Sewet a merchant called Migara, who had a son, Piimna-wardhana, a young man of excellent appearance. One day his parents said to him that he had arrived at a proper age to marry ; but he said that he would never marry unless he could meet with a female possessed of the five beauties (pancha- kalydna). His parents asked him what they were; and he said, "1. K6sa kalydna; hair that when spread out will be splendid as the feathers of the peacock's tail. 2. Mansa- kalydna; lips, that whether betel has been eaten or not will always be red as the kem fruit. 3. Ashti-kaly^na ; teeth white, uniform, near each other, and of the same height. 4. Chawi- kalyina ; the body of an uniform colour, without a single spot. 5. Waya-kalyana ; though she should have twenty children, never to appear old, and though she should live to be a hnndred years old, not to have a single grey hair." The parents, when they received this reply, collected 108 brahmans, from whom they enquired if there was such a female in the world ; and they Q 2 228 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. were told tbat there was. Then eight of the brahmans were selected and were sent to all parts of Jambndwipa to find a maiden of this description, a great reward being promised to the discoverer. They were long nnsaccessful in their search, but arrived at Sak6tn on a festival daj, when the ladies of the city, at other times kept in the strictest privacy, were accns- tomed to make their appearance in pnblic, and join in the amusements of the season. The nobles had now an opportunity of seeing their equals of the other sex ; and they were accus- tomed to go to the comers of the streets to throw flowers and garlands at them as they passed. The brahmans thought that this would be a good opportunity to accomplish their design ; and for this purpose they took their station in a certain hall. By and bye, Wisikha, now fifteen years of age, came within sight, attended by her maidens ; and as a shower of rain came on, the other ladies began to run towards the hall in great confusion ; but Wisakhi continued to walk at her usual pace, just as if there had been no rain at alL As she came nearer, the brahmans saw that she had four of the beauties, but they could not see her teeth. They therefore entered into conversa- tion with her, and said, as if in jest, " Unfortunate will be the man who has you for a wife ; if you go for water in the morning you will not return before night, and so he will get nothing to eat." Sweetly she replied, " How so ?'* and they informed her that they judged thus, because she was the last to arrive at the hall and the last in putting off her ornaments that had been wet by the rain. But she said thai it was not from indolence ; it was not graceful in a female to run.* " There are four persons," said she, " who ought not to run. 1. The king, when the crown is upon his head, and he is arrayed in the royal ornaments ; the people would be ashamed and compare him to a labourer. 2. The royal elephant, when his elegant trappings are on. 3. The recluse. 4. The female ; lest the people should say she is a man. It was on this account I did not run. Again, a young maiden may be compared to merchandize on sale ; were she to run, she might fall or dash her foot against some obstruc- tion, and thus her palms and the soles of her feet would be damaged, and nobody would buy her." The brahman, who saw by this time that she was well fitted to become the wife of * " The brahman must not run even when it rains." — Manu. Inst. ir. 38. VIL LEGENDS OF G(5tAMA BUDUA. 229 their lord, make known to her their intention, and pat a chain of great valne npon her neck. When Wisakhd had learnt the name and rank of Pdrnna-wardhana, she sent to inform her father, and requested that chariots might be provided to convey her and her maidens home. The father asked the brahmans the wealth of their lord, and thej said 40 kdtis of treasure. Dhananjara said that this was only as much as his daughter would require for bathing money ;* but as his rank was equal, he consented to her betrothal. The brahmans now went to tell Migdra of their success, who was well pleased, and resolved to set out for Sdk6tu without delay, but went first to inform the king of what had taken place. The king said that it was at his request the rich merchant had come to reside in those territories, and that therefore he would himself be present at the marriage. On hearing this, Migara, sent to inform the merchant of the king's intention ; and said that as it was impossible he could provide for so large a retinne, the marriage had better be celebrated privately ; but Dhananjara replied, that if even ten kings, with as man^ armies, were to come, he could provide for them all, Still Migara thought he said this as a mere boast, and sent again to tell him that only a few guards would be left in the city, and the king would be attended by 8 kdtis of men ; but he replied as before, that he could provide for them all. Dhananjara gave 70 measures of diamonds, pearls, and precious stones to the jewellers, to be made into different kinds of omamenta. When the king had arrived in the city and remained several days, he sent to tell the merchant that he had better not delay the marriage of his daughter, as the providing for so many people must be a burden to him ; but Dhananjara said that the proper nekata for the mar- riage would not occur in less than four months, and that in the interval his majesty was to enjoy himself, and all his expenses would be defrayed. During the whole of the foar months, the city was like a festive hall ; through the liberality of the mer- chant no one wanted for anything.