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II, 7.
ENTERING THE PLACE OF AUSTERITIES.
71
shining, lit up on every side the forest place of suffering;' 495
Himself gifted with every excellence (Siddhartha), according to his gifts, so were they reflected. As the lion, the king of beasts, when he enters among the herd of beasts, 496
Drives from their minds all thoughts of common things', as now they watch the true form of their kind?, so those Rishi masters assembled there, suddenly perceiving the miraculous portents, 497
Were struck with awe and fearful gladness", as they gazed with earnest eyes and hands conjoined. The men and women too, engaged in various occupations, beholding him, with unchanged attitudes, 498
Gazed as the gods look on king Sakra, with constant look and eyes unmoved; so the Rishis, with their feet fixed fast, looked at him even thus; 499
Whatever in their hands they held, without releasing it, they stopped and looked; even as the ox when yoked to the wain, his body bound, his mind also restrained ; 500
So also the followers of the holy Rishis, each called the other to behold the miracle. The peacocks and the other birds with cries commingled flapped their wings; 501
That is, expels the recollection of all inferior shapes or forms. 3 "The true form of their kind,' I here take to be equal to the way of birth.'
s'The miracle,' # • 'Fearful gladness,
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