Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 49.djvu/28

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8
THE BUDDHA-KARITA OF ASVAGHOSHA.

41. Pleasant breezes blew soft to the touch, dropping down heavenly garments ; the very sun, though still the same, shone with augmented light, and fire gleamed, unstirred, with a gentle lustre.

42. In the north-eastern part of the dwelling a well of pure water appeared of its own accord, wherein the inhabitants of the gynaeceum, filled with wonder, performed their rites as in a sacred bathing-place.

43. Through the troops of heavenly visitants, who came seeking religious merit, the pool itself received strength to behold Buddha, and by means of its trees bearing flowers and perfumes it eagerly offered him worship.

44. The flowering trees at once produced their blossoms, while their fragrance was borne aloft in all directions by the wind, accompanied by the songs of bewildered female bees, while the air was inhaled and absorbed by the many snakes (gathering near)[1].

45. Sometimes there resounded[2] on both sides songs mingled with musical instruments and tabours, and lutes also, drums, tambourines, and the rest, — from women adorned with dancing bracelets.

46. [3]That royal law which neither Bhrtga nor Angiras ever made, those two great seers the founders of families, their two sons .Sukra and Vrzhaspati left revealed at the end.


  1. Serpents are called vâyubhaksha. See Ind. Sprüche, III, 4738, and Raghuvamsa XIII, 12. Cf. also infra, VII, 15.
  2. Virâgitam, ‘it was manifested by.’ Can tat mean ‘then’ or ‘there ?’
  3. We learn from sloka 52 that this is a speech uttered by the Brahmans of the court.