7. The Bodhisativa consults with the gods over what form he shall
assume
When the Bodhisattva had installed the Bodhisattva Maitreya in the Tusita palace, he spoke again to the great congregation of gods: "In what form, o worthy ones, shall I descend into the mother womb ?" Then answered some of them:" O divine one, in human form" But others said: etc.
Among them was a Brahmakayika gods son, by name Ugrateja, in a former birth a rsi and one who did not turn away from (the struggle after) the most high and perfect Wisdom; he spake thus: "So as it is given in the mantra-, veda- and ,castra-books of the mother-womb. And what is that form? The mighty shape of a splendid elephant, with six tusks, as if enclosed in a golden net, brightly shining, with a head red and most beautiful with the sap that oozes from its forehead." (39: 6,13).
On this relief it is easy to see that no lecture or sermon, but a conference is going on as the attitudes of the figures plainly show. The Bodhisattva sits with a incensestand in front of him in the middle of his pavilion, the gods are seated on both sides under the trees, some listening, others joining in the discussion. It seems impossible to distinguish Ugrateja among the company (as Pleyte does 1.1. p. 16, misled by a fault in the drawing).
The text now brings us again to earth, and shows us several omens within the palace of Cuddhodana. Then follows: