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V, 24.
(4) "As men, seeing the footprint of an elephant
king,
OF MILINDA THE KING.
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Can judge, by inference: 'How great his size must be!'
So when they see the footprint of the elephant of men,
Buddha, the wise, upon the path that men have trod,
They know, by inference: 'How glorious Buddha was1!'
(5) "As when they see all living things crouching in fear,
Men know: "Tis the roar of the king of the beasts that frightens them.'
So, seeing other teachers break and fly in
fear,
They know: "Tis a king of the truth hath uttered words sublime!'
(6) "Seeing the earth smiling, well watered, green with grass,
Men say: 'A great and pleasant rain hath fallen fast.'
So when they see this multitude rejoicing, peaceful, blest,
Men may infer: 'How sweet the rain that stilled their hearts!'
(7) "Seeing the wide earth soaked, boggy, a marsh of mud,
Men say: 'Mighty the mass of waters broken loose.'
It is perhaps such poetical figures as this that have afforded foundation for the legend of Buddha's footprint.
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