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BIRTH； AND OTHER INCIDENTS IN CONNEXION WITH IT。
Less than a yojana to the east from this brought them to the city of
Kapilavastu；＇1＇ but in it there was neither king nor people。 All was mound
and desolation。 Of inhabitants there were only some monks and a score or
two of families of the common people。 At the spot where stood the old
palace of king Suddhodana＇2＇ there have been made images of the prince
（his eldest son） and his mother；＇3＇ and at the places where that son
appeared mounted on a white elephant when he entered his mother's
womb；＇4＇ and where he turned his carriage round on seeing the sick man
after he had gone out of the city by the eastern gate；＇5＇ topes have been
erected。 The places （were also pointed out）＇6＇ where （the rishi） A…e＇7＇
inspected the marks （of Buddhaship on the body） of the heir…apparent
（when an infant）； where； when he was in company with Nanda and others；
on the elephant being struck down and drawn to one side； he tossed it
away；＇8＇ where he shot an arrow to the south…east； and it went a distance
of thirty le； then entering the ground and making a spring to come forth；
which men subsequently fashioned into a well from which travellers might
drink；＇9＇ where； after he had attained to Wisdom； Buddha returned and
saw the king； his father；＇10＇ where five hundred Sakyas quitted their
families and did reverence to Upali＇11＇ while the earth shook and moved
in six different ways； where Buddha preached his Law to the devas； and
the four deva kings and others kept the four doors （of the hall）； so that
（even） the king； his father； could not enter；＇12＇ where Buddha sat under a
nyagrodha tree； which is still standing；＇13＇ with his face to the east； and
（his aunt） Maja…prajapati presented him with a Sanghali；＇14＇ and （where）
king Vaidurya slew the seed of Sakya； and they all in dying became
Srotapannas。＇15＇ A tope was erected at this last place； which is still
existing。
Several le north…east from the city was the king's field； where the heir…
apparent sat under a tree； and looked at the ploughers。＇16＇
Fifty le east from the city was a garden； named Lumbini；＇17＇ where
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the queen entered the pond and bathed。 Having come forth from the pond
on the northern bank； after （walking） twenty paces； she lifted up her hand；
laid hold of a branch of a tree； and； with her face to the east； gave birth to
the heir…apparent。＇18＇ When he fell to the ground； he （immediately）
walked seven paces。 Two dragon…kings （appeared） and washed his body。
At the place where they did so； there was immediately formed a well； and
from it； as well as from the above pond； where （the queen） bathed；＇19＇ the
monks （even） now constantly take the water； and drink it。
There are four places of regular and fixed occurrence （in the history of）
all Buddhas：first； the place where they attained to perfect Wisdom （and
became Buddha）； second； the place where they turned the wheel of the
Law；＇20＇ third； the place where they preached the Law； discoursed of
righteousness； and discomfited （the advocates of） erroneous doctrines； and
fourth； the place where they came down； after going up to the
Trayatrimsas heaven to preach the Law for the benefit of their mothers。
Other places in connexion with them became remarkable； according to the
manifestations which were made at them at particular times。
The country of Kapilavastu is a great scene of empty desolation。 The
inhabitants are few and far between。 On the roads people have to be on
their guard against white elephants＇21＇ and lions； and should not travel
incautiously。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Kapilavastu； 〃the city of beautiful virtue；〃 was the birthplace of
Sakyamuni； but was destroyed； as intimated in the notes on last chapter；
during his lifetime。 It was situated a short distance north… west of the
present Goruckpoor； lat。 26d 46s N。； lon。 83d 19s E。 Davids says （Manual；
p。 25）； 〃It was on the banks of the river Rohini； the modern Kohana； about
100 miles north…west of the city of Benares。〃
＇2＇ The father； or supposed father； of Sakyamuni。 He is here called
〃the king white and pure〃 （｛。｝ ｛。｝ ｛。｝）。 A more common appellation is 〃the
king of pure rice〃 （｛。｝ ｛。｝ ｛。｝）；〃 but the character ｛。｝； or 〃rice；〃 must be a
mistake for ｛。｝； 〃Brahman；〃 and the appellation= 〃Pure Brahman king。〃
＇3＇ The 〃eldest son；〃 or 〃prince〃 was Sakyamuni； and his mother had
no other son。 For 〃his mother；〃 see chap。 xvii； note 3。 She was a daughter
of Anjana or Anusakya； king of the neighbouring country of Koli； and
Yasodhara； an aunt of Suddhodana。 There appear to have been various
intermarriages between the royal houses of Kapila and Koli。
＇4＇ In 〃The Life of the Buddha；〃 p。 15； we read that 〃Buddha was now
in the Tushita heaven； and knowing that his time was come （the time for
his last rebirth in the course of which he would become Buddha）； he made
the necessary examinations； and having decided that Maha…maya was the
right mother； in the midnight watch he entered her womb under the
appearance of an elephant。〃 See M。 B。； pp。 140…143； and； still better； Rhys
Davids' 〃Birth Stories；〃 pp。 58…63。
＇5＇ In Hardy's M。 B。； pp。 154； 155； we read； 〃As the prince （Siddhartha；
the first name given to Sakyamuni； see Eitel； under Sarvarthasiddha） was
one day passing along； he saw a deva under the appearance of a leper； full
of sores； with a body like a water…vessel； and legs like the pestle for
pounding rice； and when he learned from his charioteer what it was that he
saw； be became agitated； and returned at once to the palace。〃 See also
Rhys Davids' 〃Buddhism；〃 p。 29。
＇6＇ This is an addition of my own； instead of 〃There are also topes
erected at the following spots；〃 of former translators。 Fa…hien does not say
that there were memorial topes at all these places。
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＇7＇ Asita； see Eitel； p。 15。 He is called in Pali Kala Devala； and had
been a minister of Suddhodana's father。
＇8＇ In 〃The Life of Buddha〃 we read that the Lichchhavis of Vaisali
had sent to the young prince a very fine elephant； but when it was near
Kapilavastu； Devadatta； out of envy； killed it with a blow of his fist。
Nanda （not Ananda； but a half…brother of Siddhartha）； coming that way；
saw the carcase lying on the road； and pulled it on one side； but the
Bodhisattva； seeing it there； took it by the tail； and tossed it over seven
fences and ditches； when the force of its fall made a great ditch。 I suspect
that the characters in the column have been disarranged； and that we
should read ｛。｝ ｛。｝ ｛。｝ ｛。｝； ｛。｝ ｛。｝； ｛。｝ ｛。｝。 Buddha； that is Siddhartha； was
at this time only ten years old。
＇9＇ The young Sakyas were shooting when the prince thus surpassed
them all。 He was then seventeen。
＇10＇ This was not the night when he finally fled from Kapilavastu； and
as he was leaving the palace； perceiving his sleeping father； and said；
〃Father； though I love thee； yet a fear possesses me； and I may not stay；〃
The Life of the Buddha； p。 25。 Most probably it was that related in M。 B。；
pp。 199…204。 See 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 pp。 120… 127。
＇11＇ They did this； I suppose； to show their humility； for Upali was
only a Sudra by birth； and had been a barber； so from the first did
Buddhism assert its superiority to the conditions of rank and caste。 Upali
was distinguished by his knowledge of the rules of discipline； and praised
on that account by Buddha。 He was one of the three leaders of the first
synod； and the principal compiler of the original Vinaya books。
＇12＇ I have not met with the particulars of this preaching。
＇