The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c11.s1.205

c11.s1.205

I. — Upper scene. Prince Siddhârtha, languidly ensconced upon his throne, offers his own ring, as a token of betrothal, to Gopâ or Yaçodâ, who is kneeling with clasped hands at his feet. On the left presses the crowd of maidens disdained for her sake; on the right the emissaries of the king with visible satisfaction discover, and discuss among themselves, the significant attitude of the prince, whose heart, to the great despair of his father, had until then remained proof against love. Lower scene. Cf. p. 228. On the right, King Mândhâtar, flanked by his court, witnesses the scene from his palace : pieces of woven stuff fall from the clouds, naturally in the same long, rectangular shape which they would have when issuing from the loom. Among the people some catch them in their flight, others commence to drape themselves with them, whilst others providently make veritable bundles of them.