Seven days after the birth of the Bodhisattva, his mother, queen Maya died. After her death she was born again among the three and thirty gods. Thereupon five hundred (akya-women spoke each to herself in this wise: ,,I shall take on myself the care of the prince". But the eldest (akya's, both men and women, said: ,,AI1 these women are young, beautiful, well-formed and proud of their youth and beauty; they are not suited to bring up the Bodhisattva as it befits. None other than Mahaprajapati Gautami here, the sister of the prince's mother, is able to bring up the prince in a wholly satisfactory manner, and to assist king Cuddhodana". As soon as theywereagreedupon this, they encouraged Mahaprajapati Gautami. Therefore she brought up the young prince. And two and thirty

nurses were appointed to the Bodhisattva, eight to carry him, eight to give him milk, eight to bathe him and eight to play with Tim". (97: 3; 100: 10).

The middle of the relief is taken up by a large pavilion; within sits king Cuddhodana with his son on his knees, on each side of him a group of women. The Bodhisattva again has the half-moon ornement behind his head. Among the women a few hold a bowl or dish and must be servants as can be noticed by their dress; the one sitting directly in front of the king has nothing to distinguish her from the others, so there would be no reason to think she is the princess Gautami. Although it is most probable, considering the position of the relief between the feasting of the brahmans and the visit of Asita, that the choice of a foster-mother is here intended, there is still a good deal of doubt, because also the old Cakya's of the text are omitted. Right and left of the pavilion, servants are sitting under a palm-tree, armed guards only on the right. In connection with the possibility that we may have here before us some other scene than the text suggests, I must mention that the return from Lumbmi to Kapilavastu, a favorite scene in sculptured art, at least in that of Gandhara i), that should have found a place here, is altogether missmg on Barabudur, notwithstanding the elaborate description in the Lalitavistara.