26 PADUMĀWATI. [52-53 of lotuses (padma) (was exhaled from the new-born child, and) pervaded the earth, and bees and butterflies came round her on every side. Such beauty had the maiden, that no other could be compared with her. Happy is the land where so fair a form is born. 52. The sixth night came with its happy sixth night service, and with joy and dancing did it pass. When dawn appeared, came the pandits, who drew out their holy books and interpreted her birth. 'At the most propitious hour hath she been born. A moon hath risen which hath illumined the whole sky. The moon (in the sky) hath risen upon the world in the sign of the Virgin, and hence her name must be called Padmavati.3 The sun hath, as it were, met the philosopher's stone, and from its rays hath been born a diamond more glorious than they, and worthy of the diamond hath been born a still more perfect spotless jewel (ratna). She hath been born in Simhala- dvipa, and will go to death's abode from Jambū-dvīpa.'
- E'en as when Rāma was born in Ayodhyā, with the thirty-two lucky
marks; as Rāvana was fascinated when he saw Rāma; so all when they see her will be fascinated, as the moth is by a candle.' 53. The astrologer had written the proper horoscope, and having blessed ber returned home; and when the damsel was five years old, they taught her to sit, as a pupil, and to read the purānas. Thus Padmāvati became wise and learned, and the kings of all the world heard of it. A girl is in the king's house at Simhala, very beautiful hath God made her incarnate. In the first place is she a Padmini, and, in the second, a Pandit. We wonder moon on Mahādēva's head is always represented as two days old. The full moon, on the contrary, is covered with marks, and is not so much worshipped as being impnre. Com- pare note 9 on next page. Note that the poet treats the word sasi, moon, as feminine, contrary to Hindū custom. 1 See Bihar Peasant Life.$ 1406. It is believed that, on the sixth night after birth, Brahma writes on the child's forehead its future fate. Hence, on this night, astrologers are called to prepare the infant's horoscope. The occasion is one of much rejoicing, and the greatest care is taken that no demon or ghost should approach the mother or child, and that nothing unlncky should happen. It is said that on the sixth night Yaçõda held Krsna crookedly to her breast, and that, in consequence, Krsna squinted all his life. % A Sanskrit MS. is usually kept wrapped up in a cloth. Hence the expression drew ont. 3 According to Hindū astrologers each nakşatra, or lunar asterism, has certain syllables allotted to it. The sign of the Virgin includes a portion of the asterism of Uttara-phālguni, the whole of the asterism Hast, and half of the asterism Citra, of which the syllables, in order are to, pa, pī, pī, sa, na, ta, pe, po. Padmavati must have been born in the third carana of Uttara-phālguni, i.e., when 3 amças, 20 kalās of the sign of the Virgin had been passed by the moon, and hence her name had to commence with Pa. 4 The sun is Gandharva-Sēna, her father; the philosopher's stone, Campavati, her mother; and the diamond, Padmāvatī, herself. 6 The Jewel' (ratna) is, of course, Ratna-sēna, who was to woo and win Padmāvati. 8 Jambu-dvipa here means India. 7 Regarding the thirty-two marks, see p. 24, note 6. 8 According to the Jyautisa-phalita, a child should commence the alphabet at the commencement of its fifth year. 9 Literally of the four quarters.'
