increasing prosperity and riches without hindrance, as well as by the submissiveness of their proud vassals. His very birth adorned both that court and that capital, always sympathising with their princes in weal and woe, with the brilliant show of a festival day.
1, 2. (At the court) a large distribution of gifts filled the hands and satisfied the minds of Brâhmans, and the attendants were proud of their very brilliant festival garments[1]. (Outside the palace) the streets resounded with the tones of many instruments and with the blending noise of singing, jesting, laughing, as the gladness of the hearts manifested itself by various merrirnent, dancing, and wantonness. Everywhere people meeting told each other with exultation and embraces the happy news, which gave them the same contentment as a present, and they magnified the felicity of their king.
3. The doors of the prisons were opened, and the prisoners set at liberty. Flags floating at the tops of the houses decorated the places, and the ground was covered with fragrant powders and flowers, and moistened with spirituous liquors. So adorned, the town bore the lovely and bright appearance of a festival.
4. From the splendid dwellings of the wealthy abundant showers of different goods : clothes, gold, jewels &c. poured down, so that it seemed as if Felicity, doing her best to pervade the world, with lovely sport imitated Gangâ in madness[2].
Now at that time it happened as a rule that every prince born to the king soon died. Supposing that rule to be the effect of goblin-power[3], he ordered, with
- ↑ Apparently the attendants had received that new attire as a present.
- ↑ The presents strewed about are compared either with the cascade of the Ganges at Gangâdvâra, where the river rushes into the valley, or with the mythological account of Gangâ hurling down from heaven to earth at the instance of Bhagîratha.
- ↑ In the Pâli redaction the new-born children are in fact carried away by a goblin, a Yakkhini.
