________________
LIFE OF MAHÁVÍRA.
49
merable thousand-leaved water lilies, filled with aquatic animals, and exhibiting shoals of happy fishes, sporting and shining as if the water were on fire. There sprung up lotuses of the solar radiance and of the lunar radiance, the blue lotus, the rosecoloured, and the pale, all growing together in one inartificial, splendid, delightful assemblage. Large black bees, and swarms of gadflies, were luxuriating among the leaves. Black swans, and white swans, cranes, geese, and Indian cranes, in all their pride, males and females, were fluttering over the water, while the lotus leaves, besprinkled with drops of dew, reflected every variety of colour, a sight wholly pleasing to the eye; a piece of water inspiring the highest delight.
She next saw the sea of milk shining like the moon, when she shines with her utmost brilliance, propitious as the divine curl*, the fluid rushing together from the four quarters of the heavens, the lofty waves incapable of measurementt, utterly devoid of stability, agitated by the tempestuous winds; in one place rushing against each other, while in another they dash against the shore, sending forth a brilliant spray, inspiring the
* Srívatsa, considered lucky among Jains and Brahmans.
† So I paraphrase 319ATUT: a fine idea, "that can be compared only to themselves."
