CONTENTS.
LEGEND OR LIFE OF THE BURMESE BUDDHA,
CALLED GAUDAMA.
| PAGE | |
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| Invocation of the Burmese translator—Slow but steady progressof Phralaong towards the Buddhaship—Promisemade to him by the Buddha Deipinkara—Origin andbeginning of the Kapilawot country and of its rulers—Birthof Thoodaudana—His marriage with the PrincessMaia—Rumour of the coming birth of a Buddha—Phralaongin the seats of Nats—Dream of Maia—Conceptionof Phralaong—Wonders attending that event. | [1] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| Birth of Buddha in a forest—Rejoicings on that occasion—Kaladewila—Predictionof the Pounhas—Vain efforts of Thoodaudana to thwart the effect of the Prediction. | [34] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| A name is given to the child—Prediction of the Pounhasrespecting the child—Death of Maia—Miraculous occurrenceat the child's cradle—Adolescence of the Phralaong—Hesees the four signs—Return from the garden to the royal city. | [45] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| Phralaong leaves his palace, the royal city, and retires intosolitude amidst the plaudits of the Nats—He cuts hisfine hair with a stroke of his sword, and puts on thehabit of Rahan—He begs his food at Radzagio—Hisinterview with the ruler of that place—His studies undertwo Rathees—His fast and penances in the solitude of Oorouwela during six years. | [60] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| Thoodzata's offering to Phralaong—His five dreams—Heshapes his course towards the Gniaong tree—Miraculousappearance of a throne—Victory of Phralaong over ManhNat—His meditations during forty-nine days near theBodi tree—He at last obtains the perfect science—Heovercomes the temptations directed against him by thedaughters of Manh—Buddha preaches the law to aPounha and to two merchants. | [77] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| Buddha hesitates to undertake the task of preaching the law—Thegreat Brahma entreats him to preach the law to all beings—His assentto the entreaties—Journey towards Migadawon—He meets Ouppaka—Hisfirst preachings—Conversion of a young nobleman named Ratha, followedby that of his father and other relatives—Conversion of several othernoblemen—Instructions to the Rahans—Conversion of the three Kathabas. | [111] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| Buddha's sermon on the mountain—Interview of Buddha andKing Pimpathara in the vicinity of the city of Radzagio—Answerof Kathaba to Buddha's interrogation—Instructionsdelivered to the king and his attendants—Solemnentry of Buddha into Radzagio—Donation of theWeloowon monastery to Buddha—Conversion of Thariputraand Maukalan—The Rahans are keenly tauntedby the people of Radzagio. | [146] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| Thoodaudana, desirous to see his son, sends messengers tohim—They become converts—Kaludari, a last messenger,prevails on Buddha to go to Kapilawot—His reception—Conversionof the king and of Yathaudara—Nanda andRaoula put on the religious habit—Conversion of Anandaand of several of his relatives—Temptation of Ananda—Conversionof Eggidatta—Story of Tsampooka. | [165] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| A rich man of Thawattie, named Anatapein, becomes a convert—Storyof Dzewaka—He cures Buddha of a painfuldistemper—The people of Wethalie send a deputation toBuddha—Digression on the manner Buddha daily spenthis time—Settling of a quarrel between the inhabitantsof Kaulia and those of Kapilawot—New converts arestrengthened in their faith—Thoodaudana's death in thearms of his son—Queen Patzapati and many noble ladiesare elevated to the rank of Rahaness—Conversion ofKema, the first queen of King Pimpathara—Hereticsnear Thawattie are confounded by the display of miraculouspowers—Buddha goes to the seat of Tawadeintha, to preach the law to his mother. | [194] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| Buddha's proceedings in the seat of Tawadeintha—His triumphantreturn to the seat of men, in the city of Thin-ka-tha—Heis calumniated by the heretics of Thawattie—Eighthseason spent in the forest of Tesakala—Subsequentpreachings—He meets with a bad reception in theKothambi country—Dissension among the disciples—Reconciliation—Travelsof Buddha—Preaching to a Pounha who tilled a field. | [223] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| Voyage to Tsalia—Instructions to Meggia—Raoula is made aprofessed religious—Manahan's questions to Buddha—Misbehaviourof Thouppabuda—Questions proposed by Nats in the Dzetawonmonastery—Conversion of a Biloo—Episode of Thirima atRadzagio—Attention paid to a poor pounha and to a weaver'sdaughter, on account of their faith—In the twentieth season,appointment of Ananda to the stewardship—Conversion of a famous robber. | [241] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| Buddha is slandered in Thawattie—Questions put to him bya pounha—Story of Anatapein's daughter—Conversion ofa pounha whose navel emitted rays of light—Blank in agreat part of Buddha's life—Story of Dewadat—Hisjealousy towards Buddha—His friendship with PrinceAdzatathat—His ambition—His attempt to kill Buddha—Hismiserable end. | [256] |
LEGEND OF THE BURMESE BUDDHA
CALLED
GAUDAMA.
CHAPTER I.
Invocation of the Burmese translator—Slow but steady progress of Phralaong towards the Buddhaship—Promise made to him by the Buddha Deipinkara—Origin and beginning of the Kapilawot country and of its Rulers—Birth of Thoodaudana—His marriage with the Princess Maia—Rumour of the coming birth of a Buddha—Phralaong in the seat of Nats—Dream of Maia—Conception of Phralaong—Wonders attending that event.
I adore[1] Buddha who has gloriously emerged from the bottomless whirlpool of endless existences, who has extinguished the burning fire of anger and other passions, who has opened and illuminated the fathomless abyss of dark ignorance, and who is the greatest and most excellent of all beings.