The Play in Full

“King, wherever they go, they cast no shadow;

When they walk, their steps make no sound.

When they step on the earth, they raise no dust,

And beings never tire of gazing upon them.

“Their bodies radiate great clear light.

Their words are beautiful; those of humans cannot compare!

Their speech is profound, soft, and melodious.

These are not humans; I think they must be gods.

“They wait respectfully, each of them holding in his hands

The choicest flowers, garlands, unguents, and silk.

King, it is certain that they have come

To see and worship the prince, the God of Gods.”

The king, hearing these words, was delighted and said,

“Go invite them all into the palace. [115]

The qualities and behavior you have described,

Such miracles are not made by humans.”

The gatekeeper joined his palms and spoke to the gods,

“The king invites you all to come inside.”

The gods with garlands in their arms were overjoyed

And entered the king’s palace, which was similar to the god realm.

Seeing these supreme gods enter his palace,

The king rose from his seat and joined his palms.

“These thrones with jeweled legs have been arranged here.

Please, with your great benevolence, kindly take your seats.”

Then, without pride or haughtiness, the gods took their seats.

“King, please listen to our reason for coming here.

A child, whose body is pure and who has great merits, has been born to you;

We wish to see his honored person.

“We know the significance of excellent marks;

We know what they mean, their course and their application.

Thus, sublime king, do not feel sad;

We wish to see the one who has these many marks.

The king, surrounded by the women of the palace, was filled with joy,

And he took the prince, blazing like a fire, on his lap.

The supreme gods, with flowing hair, approached;

Just when they emerged from the door, the whole trichiliocosm trembled. [116]

When the supreme gods saw the Leader’s feet and nails,

Copper colored, stainless, pure, and majestic,

Those gods with their flowing hair quickly stood and prostrated,

Placing their heads at the feet of the one with stainless brilliance.

Because of these marks and the glory that they show,

As well as the splendor of merit and the unseen crown of his head,

And also because of the light that shines from the tuft of hair on his forehead,

It is certain that he will conquer Māra and find awakening.

The gods praised the prince, saying, “He is free from the darkness of disturbing emotions;

He is full of qualities and is able to see things, just as they are.

This jewel among men has finally appeared‍—

The one who has conquered the enemies of birth, old age, death, and disturbing emotions.

“Stirred by objects of desire and imagination, three fires are born,

Setting the three existences ablaze and causing deep torment.

Yet you, a heroic cloud of Dharma, will aid the tormented by filling the trichiliocosm W

ith a rain of the nectar of immortality to calm the suffering of negative emotions.

“With a loving voice and soft, compassionate speech,

You will call out with the delightful strains of Brahmā’s voice,

Heard in all three realms and by all beings.

Blessed One, quickly call out with the great speech of a buddha!

“You will conquer the evil hordes of extremists with mistaken views,

Who are caught up in worldly desire and who remain on the peak of existence. [117]

Hearing your doctrine of emptiness and interdependent causality,

They will scatter like jackals before a lion!

“You clear away the obscuration of ignorance, the haze of the great disturbing emotions;

You appear and manifest for the sake of beings.

You, the shining light of wisdom, the light rays of insight,

May you dispel the great darkness of all beings with your gaze!

“When such an amazing pure being as this appears,

Gods and humans acquire a tremendous boon.

This precious being, who grants awakening,

Will cut the path to the lower realms and open the paths of the gods!”

The gods strewed a rain of divine flowers over Kapilavastu,

Then they circled and praised the Bodhisattva,

Calling out, “This is the Buddha, the excellent Buddha!”

Before departing joyfully up through the sky.