[234] Pierced and pierced again by the king, this elephant could not endure the pain, and so died; but the king knew not he was dead, and sat there still on his back. Then Kalingabharadvaja said, "O great king! your elephant is dead; pass on to another."

To explain this matter, the Master recited the tenth stanza:

"When Kalinga-bharadvaja saw the elephant was dead,
He in fear and trepidation then to king Kalinga said:
"Seek another, mighty monarch: this thy elephant is dead."

[235] By the virtue and magical power of the king, another beast of the Uposatha breed appeared and offered his back. The king sat on his back. At that moment the dead elephant fell upon the earth.

To explain this matter, the Master repeated another stanza:

"This heard, Kalinga in dismay
Mounted another, and straightway
Upon the earth the corpse sank down,
And the soothsayer's word for very truth was shown."

Thereupon the king came down from the air, and beholding the precinct of the bo-tree, and the miracle that was done, he praised Bharadvaja, saying--

"To Kalinga-bharadvaja king Kalinga thus did say:
"All thou know'st and understandest, and thou seest all alway."

Now the brahmin would not accept this praise; but standing in his own humble place, he extolled the Buddhas, and praised them.

To explain this, the Master repeated these stanzas:

"But the brahmin straight denied it, and thus spake unto the king:
"I know sooth of marks and tokens: but the Buddhas, every thing.

"Though all-knowing and all-seeing, yet in marks they have no skill:
They know all, but know by insight: I a man of books am still."

The king, hearing the virtues of the Buddhas, was delighted in heart; and he caused all the dwellers in the world to bring fragrant wreaths in plenty, and for seven days he made them do worship at the circuit of the Great Bo-tree.

[236] By way of explanation, the Master recited a couple of stanzas:

"Thus worshipt he the great bo-tree with much melodious sound
Of music, and with fragrant wreaths: a wall he set around,

"and after that the king went on his way--

"Brought flowers in sixty thousand carts an offering to be;
Thus king Kalinga worshipped the Circuit of the Tree."

Having in this manner done worship to the Great Bo-tree, he visited his parents, and took them back with him again to Dantapura; where he gave alms and did good deeds, until he was born again in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.

The Master, having finished this discourse, said: "It is not now the first time, Brethren, that Ananda did worship the bo-tree, but aforetime also;" and then he identified the Birth:--"At that time Ananda was Kalinga, and I myself was Kalinga-bharadvaja."

Footnotes