Lalit Vistara

SR No.: 011126
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rajendralala Mitra
Publisher: Asiatic Society
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 292
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

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LALITA-VISTARA.
be in this contest of skill and of arms, he shall carry off this my. daughter as his prize." This is in accord with the reproach of Dandapáni as given in the Chinese text. It runs thus "Our S'ákya rules are these-if a man excel all others in martial exercises, then he is crowned victor, and carries off the prize of the fairest maiden; but if he fail, then no such prize can be bis. I fear the Prince Royal has been brought up delicately, and has learned none of the arts and practices of chivalry, either in tilting, or wrestling, or boxing; but how can I wed my child to one so utterly void of skill in these arts, as I fear the prince to be ?" (Deal, p. 84.) The Sianiesc reproach is O king thy son is of proper birth, and his appearance is admirable; but so far as we know he has never learned anything, and has no knowledge or accomplishments. Therefore we hesitate to offer our daughters to him." (Alabaster, p. 120.) •
f the Burmese text the tournament is brought on after the narriage. The prince was devoting all his time to the pleasures of bis harem. and his relatives strongly remonstrated against his mode of living which precluded him from applying himself to the acquisition of these attainments belitting his exalted position." (Bigandet, p. 52.) The Prince, in reply, comes forward to prove his fitness. The idea of the tournament has been borrowed from Hindu legends, with such alterations of details as were thought necessary to cover its borrowed character. Everything connected with the Prince was miraculous, aud a miracle had to be designed for each event, and the rich mine of the Hindu legends yielded the materials for the miracles. Even the miraculous character of his birth is based on a Hindu legend. The idea of bringing forth S'ákya from the left side of his mother's womb has obviously been borrowed from the Hindus with whom it prevailed from a very remote period of antiquity. In the Sanhitá of the Rig Veda (IV, 18) there oceurs a hymn in which it is given at length. The story runs that Vamadeva, while in his mother's womb, thought of signalising bis birth, by being born in an uncommon way. His mother, perceiving this, invited Aditi and her son Indra to come and expostulate with him, whereupon the following conversation takes place :
1. ["Indra speaks.] This is the old and recognised path by