Part 5: Birth of Abhinandana

Now, Mahābala’s jīva, sunk in bliss, passed a life of thirty-three sāgaropamas in the palace Vijaya. On the fourth day of the white half of Vaiśākha, the moon being in Abhīci, he fell and descended into Queen Siddhārthā’s womb. At the time that he, possessing three kinds of knowledge, descended, there was a light in the three worlds and happiness even for hell-inhabitants.

In the last watch of the night the Queen, comfortably asleep, saw fourteen great dreams enter her mouth: a white four-tusked elephant; a bull the color of a jasmine; a lion with its mouth wide-open; Lakṣmī, beautiful from being sprinkled; a wreath of five-colored flowers; a full moon; a shining sun; a banner garlanded with bells; a golden full pitcher; a large pool covered with lotuses; an ocean with high waves; a beautiful palace; a glistening heap of jewels; a smokeless fire.

The Queen awoke and related the dreams to the King. The King explained the dreams, “O Queen, by these dreams (is meant) you will have a son, lord of the three worlds.” The Indras also came and interpreted the dreams, “O Queen, you will have a son, the fourth Tīrthanātha.” The Queen passed the rest of the night awake. Sleep, repelled by her joy, went far away.

Then the embryo grew secretly day by day in Lady Siddhārthā’s womb, like the seed-vessel in the calyx of a lotus. Lady Siddhārthā carried the embryo with ease. Verüy, the avatar of such people is for the delight, of the world also. After nine months, seven and one-half days, on the second day of the bright fortnight of Māgha, the moon being in conjunction with Abhīci, Lady Siddhārthā bore with ease a son, not inferior to the sun in splendor, golden, marked with a monkey. At that time there was a light in the three worlds for a moment and simultaneously there was happiness for the hell-inhabitants for a moment.