Coomaraswamy, Ananda Kentish: Buddha and the gospel of buddhism (London, 1916)

The Supreme Enlightenment
“working the milk in and in.” It was the full-moon clay
of the month of May when she received the message of the
gods, and rose early, and milked the eight cows, and took
the milk and boiled it in new pans, and prepared milk-rice.
At the same time she sent her maid Punna to the foot of
the great tree where she had been wont to lay her daily
offerings. Now the Bodhisatta, knowing that he would
that day attain Supreme Enlightenment, was sitting at the
foot of the tree, awaiting the hour for going forth to beg
his food; and such was his glory that all the region of the
East was lit up. The girl thought that it was the spirit
of the tree who would deign to receive the offering with
his own hands. When she returned to Sujata and reported
this, Sujata embraced her and bestowed on her the jewels
of a daughter, and exclaimed, “ Henceforth thou shalt be
to me in the place of an elder daughter 1 ” And sending
for a golden vessel she put the well-cooked food therein,
and covered it with a pure white cloth, and bore it with
dignity to the foot of the great Nigrodha-tree; and there
she too saw the Bodhisatta, and believed him to be the
spirit of the tree. Sujata approached him, and placed the
vessel in his hand, and she met his gaze and said : “ My
lord, accept what I have offered thee,” and she added
“ May there arise to thee as much of joy as has come to
me! ” and so she departed.
The Bodhisatta took the golden bowl, and went down to
the bank of the river and bathed, and then dressing himself
in the garb of an Arahat, he again took his seat, with his
face towards the East. He divided the rice into forty-
nine portions, and this food sufficed for his nourishment
during the forty-nine days following the Enlightenment.
When he had finished eating the milk rice, he took the
golden vessel and cast it into the stream, saying “ If I am
3i