fatal term, the time (of death), is now at hand; the Tath&gata longs for complete extinction, monks, after entrusting to you this Dharmapary&ya of the Lotus of the True Law.
And on that occasion the Lord uttered the following stanzas:
1. Here you see, monks, the great Seer, the extinct Chief, within the Stflpa of jewels, who now has come to hear the law. Who would not call up his energy for the law's sake ?
2. Albeit completely extinct for many ko/is of Æons, he yet now comes to hear the law; for the law's sake he moves hither and thither ; very rare (and very precious) is a law like this.
3. This Leader practised 1 a vow when he was in a former existence ; even after his complete extinction he wanders through this whole world in all ten points of space.
4. And all these (you here see) are my proper bodies, by thousands of ko/is, like 2 the sands of the Ganges ; they have appeared that the law may be fulfilled 3 and in order to see this extinct Master.
5. After laying out 4 for each his peculiar field, as well as having (created) all disciples, men and gods, in order to preserve the true law, as long as the reign of the law shall last,
6. I have by magic power cleared many worlds,
Nishevita.
Yatha.
Dharmakr/'tyasya kr/tena, literally, for the sake of the task or office of the law.
Khoxitvi, Sansk. Ahuritvi and £^orayitV&, to inlay, make inlaid work, cut figures, fashion. .Sakyamuni is most distinctly represented as a creator — in the Indian sense, of course — in the same way as Brahma Hira/zyagarbha is a creator.
