42. The Bodhisattva offers the ring to Gopa

 

Then all the young maidens of the great city of Kapilavastu gathered together in the assembly-hall where the Bodhisattva was seated, to be looked at by him and receive the magnificent ornements. The Bodhisattva gave unto all the maidens, that had come, the magnificent ornaments; the maidens could not endure the majesty and radiance of the Bodhisattva and hastened away as soon as possible after receiving the magnificent ornaments. Then came the daughter of the Cakya Dandapapi, the Cakya-maiden Gopa, surrounded and followed by a retinue of slave-girls, to the assembly-hall, to the presence of the Bodhisattva and stood next to him; and she looked on the Bodhisattva without closing her eyes. By that time the Bodhisattva had given away au the magnificent ornaments. Then she came to the Bodhisattva and spoke with a merry look: "Prince, what have I done that you despise me" ? And he said: "I despise thee not but thou comest last of Al". And he took from his finger a ring of many hundred thousands value and gave it to her. (142: 1).

 

In the middle of a pavilion with two wings, the Bodhisattva is sitting on a throne, holding in his hand the ring which he offers to Gopa kneeling before him and making a sembah. On the right, behind the Bodhisattva, inside and outside the pavilion, sit his servants and quite in the corner even two horses with their groom. In a pendapa adjoining the pavilion on the left Gopa's slaves might be sitting, if the sculptor had here followed the text; but as they are far too wed dressed for slaves and none of them hold anything in their hands, it is much more likely that they are meant for the Cakya maidens who, in spite of the text, have not yet quitted the apartment. Outside the pendapa two guards are seated. The roof of the pavilion is decorated with flowervases, and peacocks perch there as well as on the pendapa; a dove is flying out of the left corner.

 

Gopa therefore is the bride selected for the Bodhisattva, but her father objects to give his daughter to a man who has never shown any skill in learning or athletics.