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LEGEND OF THE BURMESE BUDHA, CALLED GAUDAMA.*

By the Rev. P. BIGANDET.

CHAPTER 13TH

BUDHA having completed the twofold work of preaching to the crowds and exciting their respect and admiration by the exhibition of the most extraordinary miracles, thought within himself to what place did all former Budhas resort after the display of signs, and spend the season? He saw by a stretch of his incomparable foresight, that all of them had gone to the seat of Thawadeintha in the Nats country, to pronounce the perfect law to his mother. He resolved to go thither too. With one step he reached the summit of the mountain Uganda, at a distance of 160,000 Youdzanas, and another step carried him to the top of the Mienmo mountain. This was done without any effort on the part of Budha. These mountains lowered their summits to the very spot where he was standing and rose up again to resume their former lofty position. Budha found himself brought almost instantaneously to the seat of Thawadeintha 83. He took his position on the immense rock Pantukambala. Extending himself there upon his Hiwaran, the huge mass on a sudden contracted itself to the very narrow dimensions of his dress.

The people who had seen Budha and who now could not descry him, found themselves in a state of bereavement, as if the sun and the moon had disappeared from the sky: they gave full vent to their cries and lamentations, saying, we are now deprived of the blessed presence of him who is the most excellent among the three sorts of beings, Man, Nats and Brahmas. Some said he went to this place, some to another. Many of the people who had just arrived from distant parts of the country, were exceedingly grieved because they could not see him. They all repaired before Mankalan to ascertain from him what place Budha had gone to. Mankalan knew it, but he wished to leave to Anozooda the honor of satisfying their curiosity. The latter said to them that Budha had gone to the seat of Thawadeintha, to preach the law to his mother, • Continued from p. 161.

and spend there one season on the rock Pantukambala. He added that he would be back in three months hence, on the day of the full moon of October. They came to the spontaneous resolution to remain on the very spot, and not to return to their homes until they had seen Budha a second time. They erected temporary sheds, and though the place was small for such a countless multitude they managed peaceably in the best way they could. Previous to his departure Budha had enjoined to Mankalan to remain with the people and preach to them the law. Mankalan faithfully complied with the request and during three consecutive months instructed the people and answered all their questions. The rich man Anatapeing fed abundantly the Rahans and the assembly during the whole time.

Whilst Budha was in the seat of Thawadeintha all the Nats came from more than 10,000 worlds to his presence; but the glory that always encompasses their bodies disappeared or was completely outshone by that of Budha's person. His mother, a daughter of Nats, came from the seat of Toothita to see her son and bear his instructions. She sat on his right. Two sons of Nats stood by the right and left of his mother. The crowd for a time was to keep at a distance of eighteen Youdzanas. Budha asked one of these Nats what he had done to deserve the place he occupied. He answered that in former existences, he had indeed made abundant alms, but his merits had been comparatively small because he had not done these good works to persons eminent by their sanctity. The same question was put to the other Nat, who said that he was, in former existences, living in very narrow circumstances, but that he had had the good fortune of giving alms according to his limited means, to persons who were much advanced in merits. With a voice that was heard by the crowds on the seat of men, Budha proclaimed the immense advantage of giving alms to and supporting the Rahans and those advanced in perfection. They were, said he, like good seed sown on a good field that yields an abundance of good fruits. But alms given to those who are as yet under the tyrannical yoke of passions are like a seed deposited on a bad soil, the passions of the receiver of alms choke as it were the growth of merits. At the conclusion, the two

Nats obtained the reward of Thautapan. The crowds on earth had also the benefit of hearing his instructions.

Whilst Budha was in the middle of the Nats he announced the law of Abidama to his mother. Having to go about to get his food, Budha created a figure of another Budha whom he commissioned to continue the preaching of the Abidama. As to himself he went to the mountain of Himawonta, ate the tender branches of a certain tree, washed his face in the lake Anawadat and ate the food he received from the Northern Island. Thariputra went thither to render him all necessary services. When he had eaten his meal, he called Thariputra and desired him to go and preach the law of Abidama to five hundred Rahans, who were present when the display of wonders took place and were much pleased with it. In the time of Budha Kathaba those five hundred Rahans were Bats living in a. cave much resorted to by Rahans, who were wont to repeat the Abidama. These Bats contrived to retain a certain number of words, the meaning whereof they could not understand. When they died they were transferred into one of the seats of Nats; and when they became men, anew, they had the good fortune to be born from illustrious parents in the country of Thawatee, and when Phra showed his powers they were much pleased. They became Rahans under Thariputra, and were the first to understand perfectly the sublime law of Abidama.

As to Budha, he returned to the seat of Thawadeintha and continued the instructions, where the Budha of his creation had left them. At the end of three months preaching, an innumerable number of Nats knew and understood the four great principles. As to his mother, she obtained the perfection of Thautapan.

The time Budha was to return to the seat of men was near at hand. The crowds, eager to know the precise time when Budha was to come back among them, went to Mankalan to ascertain from him the precise day they would blessed with his presence. Well, said Mankalan to the people, in a very short time I will give you an answer on the subject of your enquiry. On that very instant he plunged into the bottom of the earth and re-appeared but when he was at the foot of the Mienmo mountain. He ascended in the presence of the crowd whom he had left and soon arrived in the

presence of Budha to whom he explained the object of his errand. My son, answered Budha, in what country does your brother Thariputra spend his season? In the country of Thing-ka-thanago, replied Mankalan. Well, said Budha, seven days hence, at the full moon of Thading Kroot (October) I will descend in the country of Thing-ka-tha-nago; go and tell the people that those who desire to see me, ought to go to that country, distant 30 Youdzanas from Thawatee. Let no one take any provision, but by a rigorous abstinence let them dispose themselves to hear the law that I will preach. Mankalan having paid his respects to Budha, returned to the place where the assembled multitudes anxiously waited for him. He related to them all the particulars regarding his interview with Budha, and conveyed to them the much wished for intelligence of his speedy return.

On the day of the full moon of October, Budha disposed himself to go down to the scat of men. He called a Prince of Thagias and directed him to prepare every thing for his descent. Complying with this request, the Thagia prepared three ladders or stairs, one made of precious stones, occupying the middle, one on the right made of gold, and a third one made of silver, on the left. The foot of each ladder rested on earth near to the gate of Thing-ka-tha-nago city, and their summits leaned on the top of the Mienmo mountain. The middle ladder was for Budha, the golden one for the Nats and that of silver for the Brahmas. Having reached the summit of the steps, Budha stopped awhile, and resolved to make a fresh display of his power. He looked upwards, and all the superior seats of Brahmas were distinctly descried, on his looking downwards, the eyes could see and plunge into the bottom of the earth, to the lowest hell. The Nats of more than a thousand systems could see each other. Men could perceive Nats in their fortunate seats and Nats saw men in their terrestrial abode. The six glories shot forthwith an incomparable splendor from Budha's person, which became visible to all the crowds. There was not one who did not praise Budira. Having the Nats on his right and the Brahmas on his left, the most glorious Phra began his triumphant coming down. was preceded by a Nat holding a harp in his hands and playing

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the most melodious tunes-another Nat fanned him, a chief of Brahmas held over him a golden umbrella. Surrounded with that brilliant cortege Budha descended near the gates of Thingka-tha-nago and stopped there for a while. Thariputra came forthwith into the presence of Budha, paid him his respects at a becoming distance and said, with a heart overflowing with joy : On this day, O most glorious Budha, all the Nats and men are showing their love to you. Budha replied,-blessed is Thariputra, and blessed are all those who rejoice on my account. Men and Nats love him who is acquainted with the sublime law, who has put an end to his passions and who has attained to the highest state of contemplation. At the end of his discourse, innumerable beings understood the four great principles, and the five hundred Rabans whom Thariputra was commissioned to instruct, reached the state of Arahata. On the spot where all Budhas set their feet when coming from the seat of Tawadeintha, a Dzedi has always been erected.

Budha thus had spent his seventh season in the Nats seats. He passed the eighth in the Phinga-thara-nago country. There he proposed several questions which could not be answered even by the penetrating Thariputra, because they were to be answered by Budha himself. The great disciple had such an extraordinary power of mind, that he could count all the drops of water that are in the Ganges, and all those that had fallen on the earth during the duration of a thousand worlds, but he could not solve the doubts proposed by Badha. He preached the law to all the beings that merited the deliverance. The ninth season was spent in the Thambi country, in the monastery of Gauthitaron. He spent the tenth in the solitude of Palale, where he announced the law to the Elephant Palale which had rendered him all sorts of good offices. Budha passed the 11th season in a Brahmin village named Nala. He went into the country of Werasora, there he passed the 12th season, the 13th on the mount Dzalia, the 14th in the monastery of Dzetawon, and the 15th in the country of Kapilawot, and the 16th in the country of Alawee, and the 17th in Radzagnie, and the 18th and 19th in the city of Isalia, and the 20th in Radzagnio. Nineteen seasons were passed in the country