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ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, ( CEYLON BRANCH.) 



marriage taking place on the plea that the aspect of the stars* 

 on the day fixed for the wedding, was unpropitious : — 



u Nakkhattam patimanentam 

 Attho balam upaccaga, 

 Attho atthassa nakkhattam, 

 Kim karissanti taraka." 



u The business of the fool who observed the (astrological position of 

 the) star*?, has failed; business (i. e., doing the business well), is the 

 star for business ; what can the stars (in the sky) do ? " 



The story related by Buddha in illustration of the above 

 verse, is as follows : — 



" In times past, when (King) Brahmadatta reigned at Baranasr^ 

 the inhabitants of the city betrothed a daughter of the inhabitants 

 of the country, and having fixed a day for the celebration of the 

 nuptials, consulted an A'jivako,* a friend of the family, (saying,) " Sir, 

 we have to celebrate an auspicious ceremony this day: is the (astrolo- 

 gical) position of the stars propitious ? " 



The A'jivako thought (within himself), "These people having, 

 of their own will, first fixed a day, now consult me ! " Being 

 provoked (at this), and thinking (within himself), "I will pre- 

 vent their marriage," said, that the position of the stars on that 

 day was bad, and that if they celebrated the nuptials on that 

 day a great calamity would happen to them ! The inhabi- 

 tants of the city, believing him, did not go (to conduct the 

 bride). 



The people of the country not seeing them come, and 

 (saying amongst themselves) — "These people, having fixed 

 to-day for the nuptials, have not come ! Of what use are they 

 to us?" — gave their daughter in marriage to another. The 

 citizens returning next day, demanded the bride. The country- 



* A Hindu ascetic or mendicant. 



