54. The Bodhisattva's three palaces

 

And while the Bodhisattva was thus roused by the gods son, he caused king guddhodana to behold this dream in his sleep. He saw the Bodhisattva going away in the dead of night, accompanied by an escort of gods, and afterwards being a wandering monk in a russet garment.

 

Whereupon he thought: "Without doubt, never must the prince depart (not even) to the pleasure-garden, he must amuse himself here, cheerful in the company of his wives, then be will not depart." Then king S;uddhodana caused three palaces to be built for the prince's pleasure, according to the seasons, summer, rain season, and winter. The one for the summer was only cool, that for the season of rains had the qualities of both the others and the winter one was naturally warm. (185: 18; 186: 7).

 

The three palaces are here, in a row, a brilliant proof of the sculptor's artistic skill in giving variation to what might have been three uniform buildings. The two side ones are open in front and, owing to the inmates taking up most of the space, look rather like a large decorated niche. To the right the Bodhisattva is seated with two wives, his right legin the sling. On the left we see five women sitting on a bench, one of whom, also with one leg in the sling, is at her toilet assisted by the others. She looks at herself in a mirror held in the left hand while arranging her hair with the right. A large dish with wreaths is under her bench. The middle palace is closed, probably it is the winter-palace. It has a base decorated with rosette ornament. steps up to the door, in front of whichstands a vase with flowers, latticed windows and a roof decorated with niches and little pinnacles at the corners. Take notice of the outlines of cloud behind the roof of this building; they shew that it is a great mistake to take it for granted, when the same appear elsewhere on other reliefs, that the scene takes place in the heavens.