to Suddhodana the king, a son is born, who, seated under the Bo-tree, will become a Buddha."
At that time an ascetic named Kāḷa Devala (a confidential adviser of Suddhodana the king, who had passed through the eight stages of religious attainment)[1] had eaten his mid-day meal, and had gone to the Tāvatiŋsa heaven, to rest through the heat of the day. Whilst there sitting resting, he saw these angels, and asked them, "Why are you thus glad at heart and rejoicing? Tell me the reason of it."
The angels replied, "Sir, to Suddhodana the king is born a son, who seated under the Bo-tree will become a Buddha, and will found a Kingdom of Righteousness.[2] To us it will be given to see his infinite grace and to hear his word. Therefore it is that we are glad!"
The ascetic, hearing what they said, quickly came down from the angel-world, and entering the king's house, sat down on the seat set apart for him, and said, "A son they say is born to you, O king! let me see him."
The king ordered his son to be clad in splendour and brought in to salute the ascetic. But the future Buddha turned his feet round, and planted them on the matted hair of the ascetic.[3] For in that birth there was no one worthy to be saluted by the Bodisat, and if those ignorant ones had placed the head of the future Buddha at the feet of the ascetic, assuredly the ascetic's head would have split in two. The ascetic rose from his seat, and saying, "It is not right for me to work my own destruction," he did homage to the Bodisat. And the king also seeing this wonder did homage to his own son.
- ↑ Samāpatti.
- ↑ Dhammacakkaŋ pavattessati. See my "Buddhism," p. 45.
- ↑ It was considered among the Brāhmans a sign of holiness to wear matted or platted hair. This is referred to in the striking Buddhist verse (Dhammapada, v. 394), "What is the use of platted hair, O fool! What of a garment of skins! Your low yearnings are within you, and the outside thou makest clean!"
