66. The Bodhisattva takes leave of his escort of gods

When the Bodhisattva departed he went through the land of the Qakya's, the Krodya's and the Malla's, and was in Anuvaineya in the land of Maineya six yojana's away, at daybreak. Then the Bodhisattva dismounted off Kan. thaka and standing on the ground hetookleaveof that greet company of gods, naga's, yaksa's, gandharva's, asura's, garuda's, kinnara's and mahoraga's. (225: 5).

The Bodhisattva is still in royal robes, but already stands on the lotus cushion that appeared for the first time on No. 64, when he had taken his decision and will support the feet of the future Buddha from now on; he is turning to the group of standing gods that fills the whole of the right side of the relief. The three figures furthest to the right are yaksa's with wild hair and moustache, the other demi-gods mentioned in the text are not given. Next to the Bodhisattva a figure kneels with an umbrella and a second with a sword. Perhaps these are Qakra and Brahma, one of whom carried the umbrella on the preceding relief, while the other has the same headdress on both reliefs; or to be more careful: they are probably the two advance figures of the procession (maybe Cakra and Brahma, maybe not). The man with the sword might be Chandaka who would then be depicted twice: on the left as well, separated from this group by a tree, he is sadly leading off the horse while the faithful beast turns its head round to its master 3). As Pleyte correctly remarks (p. 99), it gives the impression as if the sculptor here intended to illustrate the parting from horse and groom— so that we are rather surprised to meet them both again on the next relief.