near him[1],—intent on liberality yet devoid of pride[2] ; a sovereign, yet with an ever equal eye thrown on all[3],—of gentle nature and yet with wide-reaching majesty[4].
11. Falling smitten by his arm in the arena of battle, the lordly elephants of his enemies bowed prostrate with their heads pouring forth quantities of pearls as if they were offering handfuls of flowers in homage.
12. Having dispersed his enemies by his preeminent majesty as the sun disperses the gloom of an eclipse, he illuminated his people on every side, showing them the paths which they were to follow.
13. Duty, wealth, and pleasure under his guidance assumed mutually each others object, but not the outward dress; yet as if they still vied together they shone all the brighter in the glorious career of their triumphant success.
14. He, the monarch of the Sâkyas, of native pre-eminence, but whose actual pre-eminence was brought about by his numberless councillors of exalted wisdom, shone forth all the more gloriously, like the moon amidst the stars shining with a light like its own[5].
15. To him there was a queen, named Mâyâ, as if free from all deceit (mâyâ)—an effulgence proceeding
- ↑ Also ‘though the highest of mountains, jet bearing his wings (uncut).’
- ↑ Or if applied to an elephant, ‘not in rut.’
- ↑ Or with a double meaning in îsa, ‘though like Sîva, yet with even eyes,’ i. e. not three.
- ↑ Or ‘like the moon, yet widely burning (like the sun).’
- ↑ Or perhaps ‘shining with undiminished splendour.’ If we read akrîtânyathâbhah it would run, ‘shining with its light undimmed by the stars.’
