The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c6.s1.8

c6.s1.8

XX. This monkish moral is, however, susceptible of a quite touching revulsion, or rather of quite gracious oversight. Evidently it was impossible for the compilers of this great collection of folk-lore to bring all the narratives within their narrow range of edification : and thus it is that a delightful story of love must have found grace in their eyes. It is not preserved to us at Barhut, except by a miserable sketch (CUNNINGHAM, XXVII, 12); but it is still in existence on the Boro-Budur of Java (¹), where the human bust of the kinnara is no longer terminated by foliage, but by the body of a bird. The king of Benares, while out hunting, perceives a couple of these marvelous beings covering each other with caresses and tears. He questions them, and learns from the mouth of the woman — always the more talkative — that they were once separated by the storm and had to spend the night on either side of the river. Now it will soon be seven hundred years since this mischance, and their life is a thousand years : however, they have not yet quite consoled each other for the separation of a few hours, and since then have been unable to help mingling tears with their caresses. — What an example for lovers, thinks the king; and it will not surprise you to learn that, with the help of this simple legend, Buddha forthwith reconciled the king and queen of Kosala, very much in love with one another, who were sulking (Jat. 504; reject 481 and 485).