Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 04: The Bodhisatta's Birth"

Latest revision as of 18:20, 31 December 2013

There was in Kapilavatthu a Sakya king,
strong of purpose and reverenced by all men,
a descendant of the Okkakas, who call themselves Gotama,
and his name was Suddhodana or Pure-Rice. [1]

His wife Maya-devi was beautiful as the water-lily and pure in mind as the lotus.
As the Queen of Heaven, she lived on earth, untainted by desire, and immaculate. [2]

The king, her husband, honoured her in her holiness,
and the spirit of truth, glorious and strong in his wisdom
like unto a white elephant, descended upon her. [3]

When she knew that the hour of motherhood was near,
she asked the king to send her home to her parents;
and Suddhodana, anxious about his wife and the child she would bear him,
willingly granted her request. [4]

At Lumbini there is a beautiful grove,
and when Maya-devi passed through it the trees were one mass of fragrant flowers
and many birds were warbling in their branches.
The Queen, wishing to stroll through the shady walks, left her golden palanquin, and,
when she reached the giant Sala tree in the midst of the grove,
felt that her hour had come.
She took hold of a branch.
Her attendants hung a curtain about her and retired.
When the pain of travail came upon her,
four pure-minded angels of the great Brahma held out a golden net to receive the babe,
who came forth from her right side like the rising sun bright and perfect. [5]

The Brahma-angels took the child and placing him before the mother said:
"Rejoice, O queen, a mighty son has been born unto thee." [6]

At her couch stood an aged woman imploring the heavens to bless the child. [7]

All the worlds were flooded with light.
The blind received their sight by longing to see the coming glory of the Lord;
the deaf and dumb spoke with one another
of the good omens indicating the birth of the Buddha to be.
The crooked became straight; the lame walked.
All prisoners were freed from their chains
and the fires of all the hells were extinguished. [8]

No clouds gathered in the skies and the polluted streams became clear,
whilst celestial music rang through the air
and the angels rejoiced with gladness.
With no selfish or partial joy but for the sake of the law they rejoiced,
for creation engulfed in the ocean of pain was now to obtain release. [9]

The cries of beasts were hushed;
all malevolent beings received a loving heart, and peace reigned on earth.
Mara, the evil one, alone was grieved and rejoiced not. [10]

The Naga kings, earnestly desiring to show their reverence for the most excellent law,
as they had paid honour to former Buddhas, now went to greet the Bodhisatta.
They scattered before him mandara flowers,
rejoicing with heartfelt joy to pay their religious homage. [11]

The royal father, pondering the meaning of these signs,
was now full of joy and now sore distressed. [12]

The queen mother, beholding her child and the commotion which his birth created,
felt in her timorous heart the pangs of doubt. [13]

Now there was at that time in a grove near Lumbini Asita,
a rishi, leading the life of a hermit.
He was a Brahman of dignified mien,
famed not only for wisdom and scholarship,
but also for his skill in the interpretation of signs.
And the king invited him to see the royal babe. [14]

The seer, beholding the prince, wept and sighed deeply.
And when the king saw the tears of Asita he became alarmed and asked:
"Why has the sight of my son caused thee grief and pain?" [15]

But Asita's heart rejoiced,
and, knowing the king's mind to be perplexed, he addressed him, saying: [16]

"The king, like the moon when full, should feel great joy,
for he has begotten a wondrously noble son. [17]

"I do not worship Brahma, but I worship this child;
and the gods in the temples will descend from their places of honour to adore him. [18]

"Banish all anxiety and doubt.
The spiritual omens manifested indicate that the child now born
will bring delliverance to the whole world. [19]

"Recollecting that I myself am old,
on that account I could not hold my tears;
for now my end is coming on and I shall not see the glory of this babe.
For this son of thine will rule the world. [20]

"The wheel of empire will come to him.
He will either be a king of kings to govern all the lands of the earth,
or verily will become a Buddha.
He is born for the sake of everything that lives. [21]

"His pure teaching will be like the shore that receives the ship-wrecked.
His power of meditation will be like a cool lake;
and all creatures parched with the drought of lust may freely drink thereof. [22]

"On the fire of covetousness he will cause the cloud of his mercy to rise,
so that the rain of the law may extinguish it.
The heavy gates of despondency will be open,
and give deliverance to all creatures ensnared in the self-entwined meshes of folly and ignorannce. [23]

"The king of the law has come forth
to rescue from bondage all the poor, the miserable, the helpless." [24]

When the royal parents heard Asita's words they rejoiced in their hearts
and named their new-born infant Siddhattha,
that is, "he who has accomplished his purpose." [25]

And the queen said to her sister, Pajapati:
"A mother who has borne a future Buddha will never give birth to another child.
I shall soon leave this world, my husband, the king, and Siddhattha, my child.
When I am gone, be thou a mother to him." [26]

And Pajapati wept and promised. [27]

When the queen had departed from the living,
Pajapati took the boy Siddhattha and reared him.
And as the light of the moon increases little by little,
so the royal child grew from day to day in mind and in body;
and truthfulness and love resided in his heart. [28]

When a year had passed Suddhadana the king made Pajapati his queen
and there was never a better stepmother than she. [29]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{DisplayImages|287|317|1985|784|1900|2102|1792|1687|1029|1802|847|138|1874|299|1724}}
+{{DisplayImages|287|317|1985|784|1900|2102|1792|1687|1029|1802|847|138|1874}}
-There was in Kapilavatthu a Sakya king,<br/>
+There was in [[Kapilavatthu]] a [[Sakya]] [[king]],<br/>
 strong of purpose and reverenced by all men,<br/>
-a descendant of the Okkakas, who call themselves Gotama,<br/>
+a descendant of the Okkakas, who call themselves [[Gotama]],<br/>
-and his name was Suddhodana or Pure-Rice. [1]<br/>
+and his [[name]] was [[Suddhodana]] or Pure-Rice. [1]<br/>
 <br/>
-His wife Maya-devi was beautiful as the water-lily and pure in mind as the lotus.<br/>
+His wife Maya-devi was beautiful as the water-lily and [[pure]] in [[mind]] as the [[lotus]].<br/>
-As the Queen of Heaven, she lived on earth, untainted by desire, and immaculate. [2]<br/>
+As the {{Wiki|Queen}} of [[Heaven]], she lived on [[earth]], untainted by [[desire]], and immaculate. [2]<br/>
 <br/>
-The king, her husband, honoured her in her holiness,<br/>
+The [[king]], her husband, honoured her in her holiness,<br/>
-and the spirit of truth, glorious and strong in his wisdom<br/>
+and the [[spirit]] of [[truth]], glorious and strong in his [[wisdom]]<br/>
-like unto a white elephant, descended upon her. [3]<br/>
+like unto a white [[elephant]], descended upon her. [3]<br/>
 <br/>
 When she knew that the hour of motherhood was near,<br/>
-she asked the king to send her home to her parents;<br/>
+she asked the [[king]] to send her home to her [[parents]];<br/>
-and Suddhodana, anxious about his wife and the child she would bear him,<br/>
+and [[Suddhodana]], anxious about his wife and the child she would bear him,<br/>
 willingly granted her request. [4]<br/>
 <br/>
-At Lumbini there is a beautiful grove,<br/>
+At [[Lumbini]] there is a beautiful grove,<br/>
-and when Maya-devi passed through it the trees were one mass of fragrant flowers<br/>
+and when Maya-devi passed through it the [[trees]] were one mass of fragrant [[flowers]]<br/>
 and many birds were warbling in their branches.<br/>
-The Queen, wishing to stroll through the shady walks, left her golden palanquin, and,<br/>
+The {{Wiki|Queen}}, wishing to stroll through the shady walks, left her golden palanquin, and,<br/>
-when she reached the giant Sala tree in the midst of the grove,<br/>
+when she reached the giant Sala [[tree]] in the midst of the grove,<br/>
 felt that her hour had come.<br/>
 She took hold of a branch.<br/>
 Her attendants hung a curtain about her and retired.<br/>
-When the pain of travail came upon her,<br/>
+When the [[pain]] of travail came upon her,<br/>
-four pure-minded angels of the great Brahma held out a golden net to receive the babe,<br/>
+four pure-minded {{Wiki|angels}} of the great [[Brahma]] held out a golden net to receive the babe,<br/>
-who came forth from her right side like the rising sun bright and perfect. [5]<br/>
+who came forth from her right side like the rising {{Wiki|sun}} bright and perfect. [5]<br/>
 <br/>
 The Brahma-angels took the child and placing him before the mother said:<br/>
-"Rejoice, O queen, a mighty son has been born unto thee." [6]<br/>
+"Rejoice, O [[Wikipedia:Queen consort|queen]], a mighty son has been born unto thee." [6]<br/>
 <br/>
-At her couch stood an aged woman imploring the heavens to bless the child. [7]<br/>
+At her couch stood an aged woman imploring the [[heavens]] to bless the child. [7]<br/>
 <br/>
-All the worlds were flooded with light.<br/>
+All the [[worlds]] were flooded with light.<br/>
-The blind received their sight by longing to see the coming glory of the Lord;<br/>
+The blind received their [[sight]] by longing to see the coming glory of the [[Lord]];<br/>
-the deaf and dumb spoke with one another<br/>
+the [[deaf]] and dumb spoke with one another<br/>
-of the good omens indicating the birth of the Buddha to be.<br/>
+of the good {{Wiki|omens}} indicating the [[birth]] of the [[Buddha]] to be.<br/>
 The crooked became straight; the lame walked.<br/>
 All prisoners were freed from their chains<br/>
-and the fires of all the hells were extinguished. [8]<br/>
+and the fires of all the [[hells]] were [[extinguished]]. [8]<br/>
 <br/>
-No clouds gathered in the skies and the polluted streams became clear,<br/>
+No clouds [[gathered]] in the skies and the polluted streams became clear,<br/>
-whilst celestial music rang through the air<br/>
+whilst [[celestial]] {{Wiki|music}} rang through the [[air]]<br/>
-and the angels rejoiced with gladness.<br/>
+and the {{Wiki|angels}} rejoiced with gladness.<br/>
-With no selfish or partial joy but for the sake of the law they rejoiced,<br/>
+With no [[selfish]] or partial [[joy]] but for the sake of the law they rejoiced,<br/>
-for creation engulfed in the ocean of pain was now to obtain release. [9]<br/>
+for creation engulfed in the ocean of [[pain]] was now to obtain release. [9]<br/>
 <br/>
-The cries of beasts were hushed;<br/>
+The {{Wiki|cries}} of {{Wiki|beasts}} were hushed;<br/>
-all malevolent beings received a loving heart, and peace reigned on earth.<br/>
+all [[malevolent]] [[beings]] received a [[loving]] [[heart]], and [[peace]] reigned on [[earth]].<br/>
-Mara, the evil one, alone was grieved and rejoiced not. [10]<br/>
+[[Mara]], the [[evil one]], alone was grieved and rejoiced not. [10]<br/>
 <br/>
-The Naga kings, earnestly desiring to show their reverence for the most excellent law,<br/>
+The [[Naga kings]], earnestly [[desiring]] to show their reverence for the most {{Wiki|excellent}} law,<br/>
-as they had paid honour to former Buddhas, now went to greet the Bodhisatta.<br/>
+as they had paid honour to former [[Buddhas]], now went to greet the [[Bodhisatta]].<br/>
-They scattered before him mandara flowers,<br/>
+They scattered before him [[mandara]] [[flowers]],<br/>
-rejoicing with heartfelt joy to pay their religious homage. [11]<br/>
+[[rejoicing]] with heartfelt [[joy]] to pay their [[religious]] homage. [11]<br/>
 <br/>
-The royal father, pondering the meaning of these signs,<br/>
+The {{Wiki|royal}} father, [[pondering]] the meaning of these [[signs]],<br/>
-was now full of joy and now sore distressed. [12]<br/>
+was now full of [[joy]] and now sore distressed. [12]<br/>
 <br/>
-The queen mother, beholding her child and the commotion which his birth created,<br/>
+The [[Wikipedia:Queen consort|queen]] mother, beholding her child and the commotion which his [[birth]] created,<br/>
-felt in her timorous heart the pangs of doubt. [13]<br/>
+felt in her timorous [[heart]] the pangs of [[doubt]]. [13]<br/>
 <br/>
-Now there was at that time in a grove near Lumbini Asita,<br/>
+Now there was at that [[time]] in a grove near [[Lumbini]] [[Asita]],<br/>
-a rishi, leading the life of a hermit.<br/>
+a [[rishi]], leading the [[life]] of a [[hermit]].<br/>
-He was a Brahman of dignified mien,<br/>
+He was a [[Brahman]] of dignified mien,<br/>
-famed not only for wisdom and scholarship,<br/>
+famed not only for [[wisdom]] and {{Wiki|scholarship}},<br/>
-but also for his skill in the interpretation of signs.<br/>
+but also for his skill in the interpretation of [[signs]].<br/>
-And the king invited him to see the royal babe. [14]<br/>
+And the [[king]] invited him to see the {{Wiki|royal}} babe. [14]<br/>
 <br/>
-The seer, beholding the prince, wept and sighed deeply.<br/>
+The seer, beholding the {{Wiki|prince}}, wept and sighed deeply.<br/>
-And when the king saw the tears of Asita he became alarmed and asked:<br/>
+And when the [[king]] saw the {{Wiki|tears}} of [[Asita]] he became alarmed and asked:<br/>
-"Why has the sight of my son caused thee grief and pain?" [15]<br/>
+"Why has the [[sight]] of my son [[caused]] thee [[grief]] and [[pain]]?" [15]<br/>
 <br/>
-But Asita's heart rejoiced,<br/>
+But Asita's [[heart]] rejoiced,<br/>
-and, knowing the king's mind to be perplexed, he addressed him, saying: [16]<br/>
+and, [[knowing]] the king's [[mind]] to be perplexed, he addressed him, saying: [16]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The king, like the moon when full, should feel great joy,<br/>
+"The [[king]], like the [[moon]] when full, should [[feel]] great [[joy]],<br/>
-for he has begotten a wondrously noble son. [17]<br/>
+for he has begotten a wondrously [[noble]] son. [17]<br/>
 <br/>
-"I do not worship Brahma, but I worship this child;<br/>
+"I do not {{Wiki|worship}} [[Brahma]], but I {{Wiki|worship}} this child;<br/>
-and the gods in the temples will descend from their places of honour to adore him. [18]<br/>
+and the [[gods]] in the [[temples]] will descend from their places of honour to adore him. [18]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Banish all anxiety and doubt.<br/>
+"Banish all [[anxiety]] and [[doubt]].<br/>
-The spiritual omens manifested indicate that the child now born<br/>
+The [[spiritual]] {{Wiki|omens}} [[manifested]] indicate that the child now born<br/>
-will bring delliverance to the whole world. [19]<br/>
+will bring delliverance to the whole [[world]]. [19]<br/>
 <br/>
 "Recollecting that I myself am old,<br/>
-on that account I could not hold my tears;<br/>
+on that account I could not hold my {{Wiki|tears}};<br/>
 for now my end is coming on and I shall not see the glory of this babe.<br/>
-For this son of thine will rule the world. [20]<br/>
+For this son of thine will rule the [[world]]. [20]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The wheel of empire will come to him.<br/>
+"The [[wheel]] of [[empire]] will come to him.<br/>
-He will either be a king of kings to govern all the lands of the earth,<br/>
+He will either be a [[king of kings]] to govern all the lands of the [[earth]],<br/>
-or verily will become a Buddha.<br/>
+or verily will become a [[Buddha]].<br/>
-He is born for the sake of everything that lives. [21]<br/>
+He is born for the sake of everything that [[lives]]. [21]<br/>
 <br/>
-"His pure teaching will be like the shore that receives the ship-wrecked.<br/>
+"His [[pure]] [[teaching]] will be like the shore that receives the ship-wrecked.<br/>
-His power of meditation will be like a cool lake;<br/>
+His power of [[meditation]] will be like a cool lake;<br/>
-and all creatures parched with the drought of lust may freely drink thereof. [22]<br/>
+and all creatures parched with the drought of [[lust]] may freely drink thereof. [22]<br/>
 <br/>
-"On the fire of covetousness he will cause the cloud of his mercy to rise,<br/>
+"On the [[fire]] of covetousness he will [[cause]] the cloud of his [[mercy]] to rise,<br/>
-so that the rain of the law may extinguish it.<br/>
+so that the [[rain]] of the law may extinguish it.<br/>
-The heavy gates of despondency will be open,<br/>
+The heavy gates of [[despondency]] will be open,<br/>
-and give deliverance to all creatures ensnared in the self-entwined meshes of folly and ignorannce. [23]<br/>
+and give [[deliverance]] to all creatures ensnared in the self-entwined meshes of folly and ignorannce. [23]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The king of the law has come forth<br/>
+"The [[king]] of the law has come forth<br/>
-to rescue from bondage all the poor, the miserable, the helpless." [24]<br/>
+to rescue from bondage all the poor, the [[miserable]], the helpless." [24]<br/>
 <br/>
-When the royal parents heard Asita's words they rejoiced in their hearts<br/>
+When the {{Wiki|royal}} [[parents]] heard Asita's words they rejoiced in their hearts<br/>
-and named their new-born infant Siddhattha,<br/>
+and named their new-born {{Wiki|infant}} [[Siddhattha]],<br/>
 that is, "he who has accomplished his purpose." [25]<br/>
 <br/>
-And the queen said to her sister, Pajapati:<br/>
+And the [[Wikipedia:Queen consort|queen]] said to her sister, [[Pajapati]]:<br/>
-"A mother who has borne a future Buddha will never give birth to another child.<br/>
+"A mother who has borne a [[future Buddha]] will never give [[birth]] to another child.<br/>
-I shall soon leave this world, my husband, the king, and Siddhattha, my child.<br/>
+I shall soon leave this [[world]], my husband, the [[king]], and [[Siddhattha]], my child.<br/>
 When I am gone, be thou a mother to him." [26]<br/>
 <br/>
-And Pajapati wept and promised. [27]<br/>
+And [[Pajapati]] wept and promised. [27]<br/>
 <br/>
-When the queen had departed from the living,<br/>
+When the [[Wikipedia:Queen consort|queen]] had departed from the living,<br/>
-Pajapati took the boy Siddhattha and reared him.<br/>
+[[Pajapati]] took the boy [[Siddhattha]] and reared him.<br/>
-And as the light of the moon increases little by little,<br/>
+And as the light of the [[moon]] increases little by little,<br/>
-so the royal child grew from day to day in mind and in body;<br/>
+so the {{Wiki|royal}} child grew from day to day in [[mind]] and in [[body]];<br/>
-and truthfulness and love resided in his heart. [28]<br/>
+and [[truthfulness]] and [[love]] resided in his [[heart]]. [28]<br/>
 <br/>
-When a year had passed Suddhadana the king made Pajapati his queen<br/>
+When a year had passed Suddhadana the [[king]] made [[Pajapati]] his [[Wikipedia:Queen consort|queen]]<br/>
 and there was never a better stepmother than she. [29]<br/>

Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 04: The Bodhisatta's Birth"

Latest revision as of 18:20, 31 December 2013

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