FROM THE TIBETAN AUTHORITIES. 287 



vain. He assured them that he should overcome them all, that his doctrine 

 would be established and flourish in Jambu divipa. And he recommended 

 to the gods, that whoever among them might wish to taste of the food of 

 immortality, he should be incarnated among men, in the same division of 

 the earth. 



The gods in Tusldta, after having agreed on Bodhisatwas descent, 

 consulted about where he should be incarnated, in what country, nation 

 and family. They all agreed that it should be in central or Gangetic 

 India. But with respect to the tribe and family they differed among them- 

 selves. Some proposing one, some another from the ruling tribes or family 

 in central India; but some objection was started to each of them. The 

 ruling tribes or families enumerated by them, were residing, at that time, in 

 Ujjayani, Hastindpura (the Pdndava race,) Mathurd, Vaishali or Praydga 

 (the Lichabyis,'*) in Kanshambhi, Rdjagriha; Shravasti, in Kosala; and 

 the Badsa Raja.\ Not being able to agree among themselves, they 

 ask JBodhisatwa himself (Shakya) where he would be incarnated. He 

 tells them in the house of Shudhodana (Tib. Zas-gtsang) a king of the 

 Shakya race, residing at Capilavastu; on account of the purity and celebrity 

 of his family, he being a descendant of the ancient universal monarchs. 



Before leaving Tushita, he appoints Maitreya (Tib. i^f^'q vulg, 

 Cham-ba) to be his Vicegerent (sku-tshab, Sf'l^) in the same manner as he 

 himself had been appointed by Kashyapa. Maitreya is still residing there, 

 and he is the saint who first will become a Buddha hereafter. 



II. — He entered into the womb, or was incarnated. 



There was a consultation again among the gods in what form Bodhi- 

 satwa should enter into the womb or body of the woman whom he had 

 chosen to become his mother. A young elephant with six adorned trunks, 

 such as has been judged proper in brahmanical works, was preferred. He 

 therefore, leaving Tushita, descends, and, in the form of an elephant, 



* See No. 2. 



t See No. 3. 



