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LIFE OF MAHÁVÍRA.
51
variety of lotuses. The heavenly band of singers sent forth a sound, articulate and harmonious, yet so loud that the thunder which issues from some immense lightning-charged watery cloud could not equal it; while the celestial bass drum sends forth a sound not inferior to that which all the men and animals in the world could raise. The finest · aloe-wood, and incense, and ignited ambergris, send up a fragrant smoke, which, rising in curling wreaths, delights by its sweet perfumes, ever continuing radiant and bright, and diffusing abroad streams of delight; a mansion in every respect desirable for the gods. Such was the splendid lotus habitation seen by the queen.
The next thing seen was a heap of jewels. It contained diamonds, adamants*, sapphires, chalcedonies, rubies, emeralds, corals, rock crystals, fragrant stones, swan-egg stones, black jewels, moon stones, and other precious stones, piled together in an immense heap, and illuminating heaven with their radiance, a heap of jewels high even as Meru, prince of mountains.
Last of all she saw the smokeless fire, large, bright, and of an orange colour, fed by fresh
* These are respectively you and afte. Some of the following are mere translations of names without imparting any knowledge of what stones they refer to, a thing I am unable to do.
