(hall or palace) Il deigned to accept the offering at and after seven days he de a, the triple refuge, and the becomes a disciple. After chalinda, comes to the spot, imilar abode; and when a I the hall with seven folds, d over Buddha to shelter e from his ecstasy, he apman youth, and told him eceived the three refuges, and became a disciple. ho had protected Bôdhienance, by planting some e over him, and had in rayastrinshas heaven as ped the world-honoured neath that tree in conoured one consented to mplation beneath that After this he delivered uge and the five comdisciple, the first of and cost 3.18 taels]. days beneath the Nyagrodha tr wards a grove called Ktchirnika seven days enjoying the fruition It was now forty-nine days s given him the milk and rice, and Now, it so happened that at th princes of North India, whose n Bhallika. These men were very dred wagon loads of valuable go removing to North India with a property. Now, when they were each of these merchants had an and whenever there was a place of fear, and so warned the merch pass that the Guardian Spirit this time assuming a bodily form they were afraid to go on. Then the oxen with a twig of the Ut vance, but they still refused, and to a standstill; moreover the mained fixed, and the whole ca the two merchantmen were fille their bodies stood erect as the "What unlucky circumstance is each of them going two or three clasped hands and prostrate for and all the spirits with their ut they said, "Oh! that we who a fear of death, might find a swift Deva of the grove, assuming a chants, addressed them thusthere is no cause for apprehens pense of peace and rest." Then those merchants, obedient words of the Deva, prepared an offering of honey and whea brought it to the place where Buddha was. Then the merc beholding the glory and grace of the body of Tathagata, were with faith, and adored at his feet. They then addressed him t "Would that the world-honoured one, on our account, woul cept this pure offering of honey and wheat." Then the v honoured one, reflecting that all former Buddhas had first red the offering of an alms-dish, considered thus with himselfin what vessel am I to receive this offering?" Then the Heavenly Kings, each bringing a golden alms-dish, came t place to present them to Buddha, and besought him to a them. But he refused, as such costly dishes were unbecomi recluse. Then they brought silver dishes, and emerald and dishes; but yet he would not accept them. At length they bro four earthen dishes and offered them, on which Buddha, cau them to unite in one (lest there should be jealousy), accepted one from them all. At this time, the world-honoured one repe the following Gâthas:-[a Gâtha to each of the four kings]. Then Buddha, having accepted the offering of the two mercha delivered to them the triple Refuge, and they became his ciples. Finally, he delivered their caravan from its difficulties presented them (in consequence of their request for some mem of him) with a hair and fragments of his nails, telling them hereafter a stone should fall from heaven near the place wh they lived, and that there they should erect a pagoda and wors the relics as though they were Buddha himself. On their feel some doubts, he related to them what had happened when Dip kara was the Supreme Buddha (the story of the five-stalked flow and how the Devas had taken his hair after he had becom recluse, and erected a pagoda over it in the Heavens: after t they took the relics with joyful heart and departed. After t having partaken of the food of the two merchants, Buddha v visited with a sickness and colic, on which a medicine-Deva broug him an Amra fruit, which healed him; and in consequence of t s your oppor ou may obtain an enduring recom- former Buddhas had first received of his nails, telling them that hair after he had become a ; buried the Amra stone, immediate with fruit and flowers. Then the ease perfectly removed.] [Kiouen XXII contains 6,568 CHAPTER The Exhortation § 1. At this time, the world-hono self- The condition (Law) to wi deep and mysterious one, difficul dust is hard to see, and its mod determine. No teacher or cunnin to this condition. But this syste for man to comprehend, but for desire to proclaim this Law to m it would be useless for me to mak Thinking thus, that he had a human source at any time, the that place lost in thought; as the 'Through much sorrow and s condition. 66 How then can I make it known preparation. How difficult for men to receiv by the chain of evil desire, So Tathagata, perceiving the which he was placed, desired to 1 The twelve Nidânas are the existence, taught by Buddha. He thought, how difficult to release them by declari inscrutable Law of mine,— Thinking thus, he desired to remain as a solitary (aranya)." At this time, the Lord of the Sahalôkadhatu, Mahâ Brahi King of Heaven (Devarâja), whilst dwelling in his palace, pe this condition of things, and having perfect cognizance intention of Buddha not to declare the Law, he assum appearance of a martial youth, with outstretched arms, al peared thus before Tathâgata. Having saluted him by kr at his feet, he stood on one side and addressed him thushail (Sadhu)! honoured by the world! See now the world w a refuge-the seeds of virtue utterly gone: whilst the honoured one has arrived at perfect wisdom, he has acc that unequalled Law, he has become perfectly enlightened yet he has suddenly resolved to enter an Aranya2 place of a and not declare his Law for the good of men! Oh, let me exho excellent Tathagata not to act thus; be not thus silent, oh w honoured! but, for the sake of men sunk in sin, declare Thy Let the love of Tathagata constrain him so to do; let the passionate heart of Sugata move him to declare his Law though the world be naughty, yet there are many prepare receive this message of love, and to be converted, many who of wise will perish; let the world-honoured one, therefore, resolv preach his Law for the good of these!" And to the same tenor the Gâthas. [These are omitted, being only another form of the same exho tion.] At this time, the world-honoured one, having heard the exho tion of Brahma Devarâja, was moved by love for all flesh to exer 1 O'-lan-jo (Méthode, p. 477); does this explain the Tarâyana Foucaux, p. 364? 2 That is, a hermit's cell-apart from men. - Sahalokadhatu, Mahâ Brahma, the ilst dwelling in his palace, perceived having perfect cognizance of the declare the Law, he assumed the , with outstretched arms, and apHaving saluted him by kneeling de and addressed him thus-"All world! See now the world without utterly gone: whilst the worldperfect wisdom, he has acquired ecome perfectly enlightened, and enter an Aranya3 place of abode, od of men! Oh, let me exhort the us; be not thus silent, oh worlden sunk in sin, declare Thy Law! rain him so to do; let the come him to declare his Law! for et there are many prepared to be converted, many who otheroured one, therefore, resolve to e!" And to the same tenor are other form of the same exhorta ne, having heard the exhortaby love for all flesh to exercise this explain the Tarayana of n men. tion, or advanced in knowledge, J flowers, some are just emerging f the water; others above the wa just opening, waiting for the pow elements) to complete their deve wisdom the various conditions of ties for further instruction and quainted himself with these circ Devarâja thus "Oh! Brahma Devarâja, attend I am willing now to open the g If any will listen, let them com Let them hearken to me as I (Religious System)." Then Mahâ Brahma, having hear their purport, was filled with jo exceedingly and exulted at the fully walked round Tathâgata peared! Then the world-honoured one who was worthy first of all to hear fit state to accept them. Conside Râmaputra and his companions, but then a voice of an invisible D that Râmaputra had already beer in what place he was now born, E an inhabitant of one of the Arupa of which extends over eighty-four the exercise of his wisdom, Bu of this period of time Udraka world and be born as a flying for 1 This exercise of the Divine p Priest Migettuwatte, in his "Co vocates held at Pantura, in Ceyl 2 Amrita. |