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Two le north from this was the place where the Gramika girls
presented to Buddha the rice…gruel made with milk；＇3＇ and two le north
from this （again） was the place where； seated on a rock under a great tree；
and facing the east； he ate （the gruel）。 The tree and the rock are there at the
present day。 The rock may be six cubits in breadth and length； and rather
more than two cubits in height。 In Central India the cold and heat are so
equally tempered that trees will live in it for several thousand and even for
ten thousand years。
Half a yojana from this place to the north…east there was a cavern in
the rocks； into which the Bodhisattva entered； and sat cross…legged with
his face to the west。 （As he did so）； he said to himself； 〃If I am to attain to
perfect wisdom （and become Buddha）； let there be a supernatural
attestation of it。〃 On the wall of the rock there appeared immediately the
shadow of a Buddha； rather more than three feet in length； which is still
bright at the present day。 At this moment heaven and earth were greatly
moved； and devas in the air spoke plainly； 〃This is not the place where any
Buddha of the past； or he that is to come； has attained； or will attain； to
perfect Wisdom。 Less than half a yojana from this to the south…west will
bring you to the patra＇4＇ tree； where all past Buddhas have attained； and
all to come must attain； to perfect Wisdom。〃 When they had spoken these
words； they immediately led the way forwards to the place； singing as they
did so。 As they thus went away； the Bodhisattva arose and walked （after
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them）。 At a distance of thirty paces from the tree； a deva gave him the
grass of lucky omen；＇5＇ which he received and went on。 After （he had
proceeded） fifteen paces； 500 green birds came flying towards him； went
round him thrice； and disappeared。 The Bodhisattva went forward to the
patra tree； placed the kusa grass at the foot of it； and sat down with his
face to the east。 Then king Mara sent three beautiful young ladies； who
came from the north； to tempt him； while he himself came from the south
to do the same。 The Bodhisattva put his toes down on the ground； and the
demon soldiers retired and dispersed； and the three young ladies were
changed into old （grand…）mothers。＇6＇
At the place mentioned above of the six years' painful austerities； and
at all these other places； men subsequently reared topes and set up images；
which all exist at the present day。
Where Buddha； after attaining to perfect wisdom； for seven days
contemplated the tree； and experienced the joy of vimukti；＇7＇ where； under
the patra tree； he walked backwards and forwards from west to east for
seven days； where the devas made a hall appear； composed of the seven
precious substances； and presented offerings to him for seven days； where
the blind dragon Muchilinda＇8＇ encircled him for seven days； where he sat
under the nyagrodha tree； on a square rock； with his face to the east； and
Brahma…deva＇9＇ came and made his request to him； where the four deva
kings brought to him their alms… bowls；＇10＇ where the 500 merchants＇11＇
presented to him the roasted flour and honey； and where he converted the
brothers Kasyapa and their thousand disciples；＇12＇at all these places
topes were reared。
At the place where Buddha attained to perfect Wisdom； there are three
monasteries； in all of which there are monks residing。 The families of their
people around supply the societies of these monks with an abundant
sufficiency of what they require； so that there is no lack or stint。＇13＇ The
disciplinary rules are strictly observed by them。 The laws regulating their
demeanour in sitting； rising； and entering when the others are assembled；
are those which have been practised by all the saints since Buddha was in
the world down to the present day。 The places of the four great topes have
been fixed； and handed down without break； since Buddha attained to
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nirvana。 Those four great topes are those at the places where Buddha was
born； where he attained to Wisdom； where he （began to） move the wheel
of his Law； and where he attained to pari…nirvana。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Gaya； a city of Magadha； was north…west of the present Gayah （lat。
24d 47s N。； lon。 85d 1s E）。 It was here that Sakyamuni lived for seven
years； after quitting his family； until he attained to Buddhaship。 The place
is still frequented by pilgrims。 E。 H。； p。 41。
＇2＇ This is told so as to make us think that he was in danger of being
drowned； but this does not appear in the only other account of the incident
I have met with；in 〃The Life of the Buddha；〃 p。 31。 And he was not yet
Buddha； though he is here called so； unless indeed the narrative is
confused； and the incidents do not follow in the order of time。
＇3＇ An incident similar to this is told； with many additions； in Hardy's
M。 B。； pp。 166…168； 〃The Life of the Buddha；〃 p。 30； and the 〃Buddhist
Birth Stories；〃 pp。 91； 92； but the name of the ministering girl or girls is
different。 I take Gramika from a note in Beal's revised version； it seems to
me a happy solution of the difficulty caused by the ｛。｝ ｛。｝ of Fa…hien。
＇4＇ Called 〃the tree of leaves；〃 and 〃the tree of reflection；〃 a palm tree；
the /borassus flabellifera/； described as a tree which never loses its leaves。
It is often confounded with the pippala。 E。 H。； p。 92。
＇5＇ The kusa grass； mentioned in a previous note。
＇6＇ See the account of this contest with Mara in M。 B。； pp。 171…179；
and 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 pp。 96…101。
＇7＇ See chap。 xiii； note 7。
＇8＇ Called also Maha； or the Great Muchilinda。 Eitel says： 〃A naga
king； the tutelary deity of a lake near which Sakyamuni once sat for seven
days absorbed in meditation； whilst the king guarded him。〃 The account （p。
35） in 〃The Life of the Buddha〃 is：〃Buddha went to where lived the naga
king Muchilinda； and he； wishing to preserve him from the sun and rain；
wrapped his body seven times round him； and spread out his hood over his
head； and there he remained seven days in thought。〃 So also the Nidana
Katha； in 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 p。 109。