"Whose wife is friendly, and of equal years,
Devoted, good, and many children bears,
Faithful and virtuous and of gentle birth,
That is the blessing that in wives appears.

"Whose King the mighty Lord of Beings is,
That knows pure living and all potencies,
And says, "He is my friend," and means no guile
That is the blessing that in monarchs lies.

"The true believer, giving drink and food,
Flowers and garlands, perfumes, ever good,
With heart at peace, and spreading joy around--
This in all heavens brings beatitude.

"Whom by good living virtuous sages try
With effort strenuous to purify,
[77] Good men and wise, by tranquil life built up,
A blessing he mid saintly company."

[78] Thus the Great Being brought his discourse to a topstone in sainthood; and having in eight stanzas explained the Omens, in praise of those same Omens recited the last stanza:

"These blessings then, that in the world befall,
Esteemed by all the wise, magnifical,
What man is prudent let him follow these,
For in the omens is no truth at all."

The sages, having heard about these Omens, stayed for seven or eight days, and then took leave and departed to that same place.

The king visited them and asked his question. They explained the Problem of the Omens in the same way as it had been told to them, and went back to Himalaya. Thenceforward the matter of omens was understood in the world. And having attended to the matter of omens, as they died they went each to swell the hosts of heaven. The Bodhisatta cultivated the Excellences, and along with his band of followers was born in Brahma's heaven.

The Master having ended this discourse, said: "Not now alone, Brethren, but in olden days I explained the Problem of the Omens"; and then he identified the Birth--"At that time, the company of Buddha's followers were the band of sages; [79] Sariputta was the senior of the pupils, who asked the question about omens; and I myself was the Teacher."

Footnotes

^46:1 No. 546.

^46:2 See the Sutta-nipata, ii. 4.

^47:1 Cyprinus Rohita.

^47:2 Mutam must be here a corrupt form of Skt. mrstam "touched."

^48:1 "Brahmins of the world of Form and of No-form." Schol.