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(sila) well and thoroughly, that I may never break them, nor commit trespasses. May wisdom be with me always. May I never be in want of relations; nay, may I be blessed with many of them. May I possess plenty of servants. May no slanders pollute me. May I never do a stupid thing. May I speak kindly and softly to every one I chance to meet. May I be preserved from dealings with fools. May I never be born poor and indigent, but only in rich and noble families. May I well understand my business. May my memory be a good one. May nothing frightful happen to me. May nobody hate me. May the punishments, awaiting for sinful deeds of former vices, not hurt me. In speaking to nobles and monks, may my words be right and proper. Should animals be killed unknowingly, may I be pardoned. May there be an end of grief and sorrow. May I depart life, surrounded by my friends, not abandoned and alone. May the sins I might have committed in the present existence, not call for retribution in the next one. May I never be tempted to treat great men and learned teachers in an insolent and impudent manner. I beg pardon for all errors I might be guilty against the holy priesthood, Phra-Phuttha, Phra-Thamr (Dhamma). I beg pardon for all my faults. I beg pardon for any breach of the precepts. I beg pardon for rudeness and roughness of mind. I beg pardon, if ever I have fostered revenge. I beg pardon for lies I have spoken. May I be prosperous in every existence, and always meet with people of rank and dignity. I beg pardon for all errors, committed in words or in acts. May I be secured against evil and misfortunes in my next existences. May there be no terror, no fear and trembling. May never aristocratic tyrants bully me. May I never be threatened by enemies in any of the existences to come. May I not suffer complaints in the next existence, neither baldness nor elephantiasis. May no sores or ulcers disfigure my body. May I not be ugly. I beg pardon, if I have allowed to be tempted by bad inclinations. May evil never come upon me, neither now nor in future. May I always enjoy handsome women. May nothing bad cross my way. When this existence shall be finished, may there never be any more sorrow, may I roll in undisturbed bliss. May the sinful consequences of former deeds, may the torments threatening therefrom, be delayed and put off. May I be re-born handsome and fine. May I never be imprisoned,

never be bound nor fettered. As it is said in the verses of Phromakut "Hao kha ti di," and in the Pali, raising my hands, I pray for wisdom. I, a person, to whom they have given the name Xai, I pray, that all evils of old and of the past may be finished, that I may be renewed to preach the words of the Lord in the next existence, to lead all beings on the road to Niphan. May I enjoy blessedness countless numbers of years in the existences to come, and then, performing works of merit with virtuous mind, may I attain to PhraSian-Metray (Arimathia). May I be pervaded by benevolence all over, may I show a charitable disposition continually, till the beating of the heart shall cease. As long as blood and eyes remain, may I accomplish good works. May I always be of a joyful mind, resembling Phra-Vixa-Thon* (Chea-tor) and always give alms to the Pret (Pretas), feeding them with blood and flesh. May the Shephada Kowand keep account of all the alms I give. May Phrohm likewise see them and be attentive to keep account. May I receive plenty of joy and felicity, in recompense for these alms. May it please one of the Shephadas to throw down a heavenly sword, because I ardently wish to cut my flesh and skin, to give it in alms piecemeal, to feed the Pret, that they may be satiated and get enough of it. May Phra-Phakava (Bhagavat) and Phra Thamr also know about all these virtuous deeds. May I become like Phra Siahn. I present flowers to Bhagavat and worship in offering them. May I know thoroughly all rules and precepts, like the Upaxa (the ordainer of novices). May I become guide to the beings, my contemporaries; may I be a leader to them in the Lord's religion, during my future existence. The present existence is an imperfect one, my frailties cause me to deviate from the road of truth; I pray for greater perfection in the next existence; I pray for wisdom, so as to penetrate all things, so as to surpass all other men; I pray for wisdom sufficient to solve all difficulties, for wisdom, equal to that of Neakkhasen (Nágasena or Nágárjuna), who with ease and without hesitation explained the questions and riddles put to him by Krom-Malin (Milinda). May the good works of former existences help me on to be re-born in a lucky state. May the Shephada come to my assistance and favour me. May I become benevolent, good-natured and liberal, free of avarice,

* Alchymists adore him, as the possessor of the magic stone, consisting of solid mercury, which is supposed to convert base metals into gold.

may I feel disposed to give alms, to do virtuous and meritorious works incessantly. And furthermore I pray particularly to possess that special wisdom vouchsafed to Taminsheah when still in the state of man, that wisdom which enabled him to solve all the problems invented by Nonthea-Sack in Nirupai, when, overcome by the prince of meritorious glory, he was made his slave and inspired by fear, and followed him as his servant. Thus he became the prince Apangtirat; and then a prince called on the Lord Viroxar, who at command received the name of Manang-Taek, because he used coarse and repulsive words, and did not know to speak properly by reason of his having been a garrulous and talkative fellow in one of his former existences. May I obtain a virtuous mind like Phra-Demiah (Temi),* who patiently bore all the trials his father put him to. I pray to obtain wisdom equal to that of Phra-Kala when born as Mahosot, whose wisdom, surpassing the wisdom of everybody else, being equalled by none, overcame Phra-Chulani. May I give alms, rich alms and freely, in the same spirit as Phra-Mund, as Phra Vetsandon and his lady (Nang) Matsi who faithfully followed him, equal to Nang Nontha, being born of the same mothers, children of the same parents in the course of different existences. And with great beauty were they gifted, and boundless knowledge was their share, till they entered heaven, in which I also pray to be received. Separated from my beloved ones in this sad existence, I hopefully wish to remain united to them, when reborn in my next existence, whether as animal or as man. May I always be surrounded by truthful friends. May I always possess my children and relations. May I always see before me those good women, Nang Pus and Nang Behn, and then these men here, Sues and Pho and Im and Png. I wish in my prayers to be endowed with mighty power and authority, to be learned in magic arts, well versed in them like unto Phra Isor, who called back to

The Buddhists distinguish the lesser existences, 550 in number, from the greater ones, of which they count 50. The former contain the framework of those fables, which in various compilations have travelled far and wide through western nations. Of the greater existences, in which the Bodhisatwa has taken human form, the ten of the Thosse-Xat are especially venerated and the most holy one is the last Tataka, that of Phra Vetsandon, as immediately preceding the incarnation of the Buddha. These ten existences begin with the history of Temi, a pious child, who, when still in the cradle, imposed on himself ascetic penances.

life Nang Phakavadi, reviving her (by the ceremony of Xub).* May my fame spread about in eminent renown like that of Phra Noray (Nárayana or Vishnu), who, coming down from heaven (ravan), was born in the state of man as Phra-Ram (Ráma) and subjected the Sack (Rakshasa) of Langká, walking through the air like Phra Tsun in Kailása. And then I wish to become a king and to get crowned, and to have nine handsome ladies as queens on my side, and to reign one hundred thousand years. And furthermore I pray for great strength and for beauty like that possessed by Phra Chan (Chandra or the moon) in times of old. May I possess prowess and a valiant heart, like Phra-Ram, the celestial one. I pray for wisdom to understand the Sinlaprasat, to know the whole of the military arts and warlike exercises like the exalted Phra-Ram, to be expert like him in archery. When this existence will be finished, may I be re-born the son of a king. May I ascend to heaven like Phra Ketsamalea,† May I be favoured by Phra-Ta (Tadra). May he give orders to PhraPhutsakam (Visvakarma) to build for me also a royal residence of unparalleled splendour on the edges of the forest. May my voice be a melodious one like that of the bird Karavek. expand. May I know all things and everything. in silver and gold, in gems and precious stones. May I have abundance in clothes, in carpets, in pillows and dresses. May my retinue be formed by handsome ladies, graceful in figure and soft and delicate of colour, with legs of the shape of the Talaket flower. May I understand the whole sense of the Trai Pidock. May I, always revelling in favourable breezes, in the twinkling of the eye, hit the right to be safe. May I never lose my knowledge, should even my body shuddering tremble in fear. May my friends be one hundred one thousand in

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May my wisdom May I become rich

*The magic art of Xub, which revives by sprinkling with enchanted water, is taught in the high academy of Takkasila (Taxasila); and it is an always recurring trait in the Indo-chinese romances, that young princes or the sons of wealthy Sethi travel to that famous city, to pass there some years as students. Another, but more dangerous method, in which fire takes the place of water, is known to the Rasi or Rischi, the hermits of the forest. The last king of Nokhon Tom, whom they offered to cure of leprosy, lost his life during the process.

+ Phra-Ketsamalea (the head crowned with garlands) is the reputed founder of the splendid temple of Nakhon Vat. The legend makes him to be a son of Indra, and relates that his heavenly father sent Visacarma, the architect of the gods, to build on earth a palace after the model of that in which the angels pass their joyful lives.

The Buddhistic Scriptures are contained in the three parts of the Pitaka, the Abhidhamma, the Vinaya and the Sútra.

number. May I remain undisturbed in unceasing bliss. May youths, male and female, of handsome appearance, attend on me, 100,000 in number, singing melodiously in sweet voices. May I possess wealth in elephants, horses, buffaloes and oxen of the best kind, elegant carriages and swift boats, to use them in going abroad. I would be pleased if each of my followers carried a glittering sword, and, when they close up in procession, they should solemnly walk like Putpala. Thus it is becoming. May I be favoured with magnificent palaces, nine of them, all covered with gold. Let them have high towering spires* rising above, glittering with jewels; let them be surrounded by colonnades, winding in three circles; let them be engraved everywhere with sculptures. On each gate have placed the Dragon king (Phaya Nokh),-place him on each step of the stairs to guard them. There must be adjoined three dwelling-houses, handsomely and finely got up. The roof must ascend in three terraces, above each other, and all embellished with splendid ornaments. The round houses also may shine in splendid ornaments. A stable for elephants has to be built, nice and clean. Let there be halls on both sides of the lake, one at the right, the other one at the left, and have them decorated with garlands of the Champa-flowers, exhaling a sweet perfume, like the scented powder of Kracheh. That is all.

LITERARY INTElligence.

Professor J. G. Bühler of the Elphinstone College, Bombay, and R. West, Esq. C. S. Acting Judge of Canara, have just brought out the First Book of "a Digest of Hindu Law," from the replies of the Çástris in the several courts of the Bombay Presidency. The volume before us contains a large mass of responsa prudentum in a variety of practical cases regarding the Hindu Law of inheritance as current in Bombay. It has been published under the auspices of the Bombay Government, and will prove a useful book of reference to lawyers. In the Introduction the editors have given an interesting account of the ancient Smritis.

The Government of Bombay has sanctioned the publication of an edition of the Apastamba Dharma Sútra with the Tíká of Hara Datta. The work will be carried through the press under the editorship of Dr. G. Bühler.

The description of the wished for palace is taken from the example of that one in which the inscription was hung up, viz. the temple of Nakhon Vat.

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