Part 7: Sambhava’s childhood

At daybreak King Jitāri held a great birth-festival in honor of the Arhat deserving the world, who had become his son. In every house, on every road, in every market, in the whole city a festival took place just as in the palace. While he was in embryo, rice was grown (sambhūta); and at that time the second ploughing (śambā) took place; so his father gave the name ‘Sambhava’ and also ‘Śambhava’ to the Lord.

The King looked at the boy, Lord of the World, time and time again, thinking himself immersed in nectar?, as it were. The King held the Lord on his lap, heart, even on his head like the choicest jewel, delighting in his touch. The five nurses appointed by Śakra, intensely devoted, never left the Lord’s side, like the shadow of the body. He worried his nurse, hke a lion-cub a lioness, getting down from her lap and wandering about without fear. He, though possessing knowledge, put his hand on the moon reflected in the floor of jeweled slabs, showing the people childish activity.

The Lord played with gods who had come in mortal forms and become his companions. Who else was able to play with him? The gods, their heads turned, ran in front of the Lord running in play, like elephant-drivers in front of an elephant. When they had been made to fall in play, crying, “Help! Help!” yet the Lord bestowed compassion in accordance with the circumstances. So he passed his childhood, like the moon the early part of the evening, with various games and varied playthings.