103. The merchants Trapusa and Bhallika approach the Buddha

In the seventh week the Tathagata tarried at the foot of the tarayapa-tree. Now at that time there were two brothers from the North named Trapu$a and Bhallika, wise and skillful merchants, who journeyed with much stuff and many sorts of merchandise from South to North, with a great caravan of five hundred laden wagons. They had two excellent bulls named Sujata and K~rti who had no fear of obstacles; and when the other bulls would draw no longer, these two were put in front. Near to the tarayana, by reason of the enchantments of a godess who lived in a ks.~rika-wood, all their wagons came to a stand and could go no further. They were seized with fear and wonder: '~What can be the reason and what is the hindrance that causes the wagons to stand still upon this level ground ?" Then they put in the two bulls Sujata and K~rti, but these too could go no further. Then they thought: "Surely there is something ahead of us that causes the bulls to fear, so that even these fail." And the godess after making herself visible, comforted them saying: "Have no fear," then both bulls drew the wagons to the place where the Tathagata was. When they saw him there, radiant as the god of fire, they marvelled saying: "Is Brahma descended to this place, ortLakra the king of the gods, Vaic,ravana, Sulfa, (:andra or some mountain- or river-god?" The Tathagata then showed them his russet garments and they said: "It is a wandering monk in russet clothing, we have no cause to fear." Then taking courage they said one to an other: "It will be time for the monk to eat. Is there anything?" And others replied: "There is honey cake and peeled sugarcane". And taking the honey cake and peeled sugarcane, they came to the place of the Tathagata and did homage to his feet with their heads, walked three times round him keeping the right side turned to him, stood aside and spoke: ,,Bhagavan, receive these alms from us in friendliness to us." (381: 3, 11, 15, 18, 21; 382: 4).

It was of course impossible to depict all the various consecutive phases of this whole tale, and the sculptor has chosen the moment when the merchants, reassured by the godess, are approaching the Buddha. He sits in dhyana-mudra on a throne with makara-ornement and triangular back, from the sides of which as from the tarayana-tree that projects above it, rays stream out to indicate the shining of the Buddha that made such an impression on the spectators. On the ground on both sides are sitting gods, a group of three and four; the front one on the right has an incense-burner, others have flowers. On the right we see three of the merchants coming, very much damaged, we can only say they are plainly-dressed, without headdress, and have beards; they carry an umbrella. The godess is under a tree opposite to them, her hand raised; between her and the front merchant, above the ground, is some half-obliterated rock-scenery in which only two birds above, and another below in a nest in the rock, can be distinguished. In the left corner of the relief there is another landscape with rocks and trees and a pair of dilapidated gazelles adorn it 1)