Chapter 2: The Marriage
(1) At that time, King Sīhahanu, wishing to arrange the consecration (marriage) of Prince Suddhodana, summoned eight Brahmins. He commanded them to go and find a royal princess endowed with the five kinds of beauty and the sixty-four auspicious marks. He then bestowed upon the Brahmins 8,000 kahāpaṇas (coins) along with jewel ornaments, instructing them, “If you find a Khattiya (warrior-caste) maiden, you are to present these ornaments as a token.” The eight Brahmins accepted and set out on their search.
(2) At that time, Princess Sirimahāmāyā, who had been cultivating wholesome merit since the time of the Buddha Vipassī, had been reborn as the daughter of King Anjana. She was endowed with the five kinds of beauty and the sixty-four auspicious marks. At the age of sixteen, during the full moon of the summer season, she and her attendants went to amuse themselves in the royal park.
(3) At that time, the eight Brahmins dispatched by King Sīhahanu had searched in other kingdoms without success. When they arrived at the city of Devadaha, they entered the park and saw Princess Sirimahāmāyā, endowed with the five kinds of beauty and the sixty-four auspicious marks. After making inquiries and conversing with her, they presented the jewel ornaments to the princess. They then went to the court of King Anjana and informed him of the matter. King Anjana agreed to the proposal. The Brahmins then returned to the city of Kapilavatthu to report the full account to King Sīhahanu.
(4) On the night of the day the Brahmins returned, King Sīhahanu had a prophetic dream. The dream had two parts. First, he saw a jeweled palace with eighteen stories rise from the center of Jambudīpa and ascend to the Brahma world. Second, he saw a very long and deep great river, filled with large waves, and a great man from the palace building a boat to ferry beings from this shore to the farther shore.
(5) When King Sīhahanu heard the Brahmins’ report, his heart was filled with joy. He commanded his ministers to prepare the royal road from the city of Kapilavatthu to the city of Devadaha. The king then journeyed to Devadaha, and upon arriving at the Lumbinī Grove, he met with King Anjana. The kings conversed on various matters, and they commanded the finest craftsmen to build a great palace and prepare for the wedding ceremony.
At that very moment, the Paṇḍukambala stone, the throne of Sakka, the king of the gods, became warm. Reflecting on the cause, Sakka commanded the celestial architect, Vissakamma, to descend and create a palace complete with all necessary furnishings.
(6) The kings and the royal families of both kingdoms gathered their retinues to celebrate the auspicious wedding, consecrating the royal prince and princess in the magnificent palace. When the ceremonies were complete, they returned to their respective kingdoms.
As for King Suddhodana and Queen Sirimahāmāyā, they dutifully cared for their parents. They lived according to the Five Precepts and the Ten Royal Virtues, in line with ancient royal tradition in every way. King Sīhahanu, having grown old, passed away. The royal son, daughter-in-law, royal family, and all the ministers arranged the funeral rites and cremation. Afterwards, King Suddhodana ascended the throne in succession to his royal father, reigning in peace and prosperity.
(End of Chapter 2: The Marriage)
