Classic Poem

1

Like the bright moon's golden crescent,
Rising from the milky sea,
She was born with heavenly beauty
In Simhala bright and free.

2

On her birth a shower of bright pearls
From the skies auspicious came,
Hence they called her Muktalata,
Wreath of pearls, — the maiden's name!

3

And she grew in grace and beauty,
Lanka's royal house to bless,
And as worth brings sweet contentment,
So her years brought loveliness.

4

Merchants from the famed Sravasti,
Happily it so befell,
Crossed the sea, to fair Simhala
Came their merchandise to sell.

5

And they sung the sacred Gatha ,
As their nightly sleep they sought,
Sung the holy lay which teaches
Precepts that our Master taught.

6

From her inner palace chambers
Mukta heard the chanted lay,
Asked the merchants to her presence,
And its import bade them say.

7

And they told the raptured maiden,
" Princess! 'tis the Buddha's word,
He is bounteous to all creatures,
Of all creatures he is Lord! "

8

And the pious-hearted princess
Heard the holy Buddha's name,
And a brightness flushed her forehead,
And a tremor shook her frame!

9

Eagerly the pea-fowl listens
To the cloud, presaging rain,
Eagerly the princess listened, —
Who this Lord? — she asked again.

10

To the princess, pious-hearted,
By her questions gratified,
Spake the merchants of the Buddha,
Lord of all creation wide.

11

Till awoke within her bosom
Memories of her previous birth,
And to them she gave a letter
For the Buddha, Lord of earth.

12

And the traders crossed the ocean,
Reached their own, their native land,
Gave the message to the Buddha,
Placed the letter in his hand.

13

And our Master, all fore-knowing, —
Knowing all the princess wrote, —
Moved by tenderness and mercy,
Thus perused the maiden's note:

14

" Thy remembrance brings salvation,
Cures all passions, hate and strife,
And imparting righteous knowledge
Is like nectar to my life! "

15

Thus our saintly Lord and Master
Briefly read the pious scroll,
And a gentle smile betokened
All the workings of his soul.

16

And with skill and knowledge wondrous,
Which the painters never knew,
For the princess of Simhala
On a sheet his likeness drew.

17

By his mandate all the merchants
With their cargo sailed anew,
Reached Simhala, to the princess
Gave the sheet our Master drew.

18

And the people viewed the painting
Placed upon a golden shelf,
And with honour contemplating
Seemed to see the Lord himself!

19

Written under that sweet likeness,
All the people, wondering truly,
Saw the holy Three Asylums,
Saw the Five Instructions holy;

20

And the Noble Eightfold Pathway
Deftly writ, with wisdom rife,
With the Doctrine of Causation, —
Life to death, and death to life!

21

Blazing bright in golden letters,
On it shone the Holy Word, —
Truth explained in beauteous language,
Written by our blessed Lord.

22

" Sufferers from sin and sorrow,
Leave this darksome vale of tears,
Serpent-fanged are worldly passions,
Trust in Him who quells all fears. "

23

And the monarch's noble daughter
Viewed the likeness fair and holy,
And was freed from worldly longings
Bred of ignorance and folly.

24

Tall and fair his golden likeness,
Broad his shoulders, mighty arms,
Eyelids closed in contemplation,
Stately nose and manly charms;

25

Beaming in his native beauty,
Ears and locks by art unaided,
Clad in russet, — like a mountain
By the evening's red cloud shaded;

26

Teaching duty by his bearing,
By his bright face teaching good,
Mercy by his soft eyes teaching, —
Such the form the princess viewed!

27

Bowing, till the budding blossoms
From her ears and ringlets rained,
With them earthly joys discarding,
Truth supreme the princess gained.

28

In a moment's time achieving
Truth divine and Knowledge rare,
Lost in joy and pious wonder
Thus in gladness spake the fair:

29

" Chaser of the world's illusions,
Saintly Buddha, dwelling far,
Present by this radiant likeness,
Lovelier than the lotus-star;

30

" I have crossed the world's illusions,
Heart's true concentration found,
Pains and passions all have left me, —
Peace, like nectar, flows around! "

31

Thus she spake, and to the Buddha
Pearls and costly jewels sent, —
For the use of holy Sangha
With these gifts the merchants went;

32

O'er the sea, unto our Master,
In their ships the merchants came, —
Bowing unto him they rendered
Pearl and stone and costly gem.

33

And our Master kindly listened
To the tale the merchants told, —
Questioned by the monk Ananda
Thus did Mukta's life unfold:

34

" Rohika, a servant woman,
In a Sakya's house who stayed,
Hath been born as Muktalata,
By her worth a princess made!

35

" Mahadhana, princely merchant,
In Benares lived of yore,
And his wife, a virtuous woman,
Ratnavati name she bore;

36

" And when died this Mahadhana,
Ratnavati, childless fair,
On a lofty holy stupa
Placed a necklace rich and rare;

37

" For this action, elevated,
She as Muktalata shone,
Born as Lanka's beauteous princess
Royal station she has won;

38

" Not at once, for pride of treasures
Stained her soul as merchant's wife,
Born as servant, cleansed of passion,
Next she lives her queenly life!

39

" Deeds that are by mortals rendered,
Good or bad upon this earth,
Yield their fruits in equal measure,
Ripened in a future birth!

40

" Holy life, a fragrant creeper,
Rooted well in righteous worth,
Bears its blossoms in this wide world,
Bears its fruit in after birth;

41

" Evil life, a poisonous creeper,
Rooted in unrighteous deed,
Yields on earth its vain delusions,
And hereafter cruel meed!

42

" In this lifetime ever fleeting,
Shun, ye men, all deeds unholy,
Bitter are the woes that follow,
Penitence pursueth folly;

43

" In the acts of grace rejoicing
Strive in faith and righteousness,
Nourished by the dew of Mercy
Virtue's fruitage comes to bless! "