Born from a Lotus Flower

At that time, the maiden's mother spoke a hymn for the prince's sake, saying: "Prince, you should listen;
I will now tell of this daughter —
her birth and her growth,
and every cause and condition of it.

Prince, on the very day of her birth,
she came forth straight from a lotus flower;
her eyes were pure and broad,
and her every limb was already complete.

Once, in a month of spring,
I went to wander and view the Sāla Grove;
I saw everywhere every kind of medicinal herb,
every one of them flourishing and lush.

The wondrous trees put forth their marvelous blossoms,
and to behold them was like gazing on auspicious clouds;
the beautiful birds called to one another in harmony,
and throughout the grove all rejoiced together.

Eight hundred women wandered there together with me,
each one upright and fine enough to seize the heart;
every one of their garments was resplendent and fine,
and their singing was, every note of it, wondrously beautiful.

In that garden there was a bathing pool,
named Lotus Banner;
I sat upon the bank of that pool,
surrounded on every side by my attendant women.

Within that lotus pool,
there suddenly arose a thousand-petaled flower,
its petals jeweled and its stem of lapis lazuli,
its calyx wrought of Jambūnada gold.

At that time the night watch had just ended,
and the sun's light had only now appeared;
the lotus, at that very moment, split fully open,
and let loose a great and utterly pure light.

That light blazed with the utmost brilliance,
just like the sun at its very rising;
it universally illumined the whole of Jambudvīpa,
and everyone marveled at what they had never before beheld.

Then I saw this jewel-woman,
born forth from that very lotus flower;
her body was utterly pure,
and her every limb was perfectly complete.

This is a treasure among humankind,
born from pure karma;
the causes laid down in past lives were never lost or destroyed,
and now she receives this very fruit of retribution.

Her hair a deep indigo-blue, her eyes like the blue lotus,
her voice the Brahmā-voice, her light the hue of gold;
a flower garland and a topknot set with every jewel,
utterly pure, without a single stain.

Every one of her limbs and joints was already complete,
her body without the slightest lack or blemish,
just like an image of true gold,
set in place within a jeweled flower.

From every pore of her skin came the fragrance of sandalwood,
universally perfuming everything around her;
and from her mouth came the fragrance of the blue lotus,
forever giving voice to the Brahmā-sound.

Wherever this daughter dwells,
there is always heavenly music;
no lowly person ought to be matched
as a partner to one such as this.