CEYLON BRANCH — HOTAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 15 



and demons of the earth and its vicinity. The usual modes 

 of marking a sense of inferiority to another is by joining the 

 hands, raising them to the forehead, and bowing before the 

 superior ; or by reverently rising from a seat, standing in his 

 presence, and requesting him to be seated, while the inferior 

 either remains in a standing position or sits on a low stool. 

 These three acts are pointed out in the terms quoted 



epc83D<3^cioso9o eg c-asoSo <gp&6\&rs-er ©o ^eerS^ocssso and 

 when Goutama declared that he saw none among these 

 beings whom he ought to reverence, he by implication 

 affirmed, that he ought to receive these indications of respect 

 from all, as being their superior. 



The reason why this superiority should be conceded to 

 him he gives towards the end of the discourse : the following 

 is a translation of it. 



" Bramin, if eight, ten, or twelve eggs are placed under a 

 hen and carefully hatched, what appellation is given to the 

 bird who with his foot, his spur, his head, or his beak, first 

 breaks his egg, and is perfectly formed ? Such an one, 

 venerable Goutama, should be called ( The Chief,' 6sd&(&o 

 he is the first born. Even so, Bramin, having broken the 

 shell of ignorance, by which enveloped in darkness all beings 

 were encompassed, I stood alone in the Universe, in the full 

 ascertainment of unerring and all- perfect knowledge. I, 

 Bramin, am the first born, the Chief of the World ; Bramin, 

 I was persevering and diligent, thoughtful and intelligent, 

 tranquil in body and mind, with a pure heart and with 

 singleness of purpose. Being, Bramin, free from sensuality 

 and criminal propensities, I enjoyed the pleasures of the first 

 Jhana (or course of profound meditation) produced by re- 

 tirement spent in examination and investigation. 



" Investigation and research being terminated, with inter- 



E 



