Page images
PDF
EPUB

Parā Taken began to look, saying to himself, "These' people are possessed of great power and glory, will they become wearers of the Thabet and Thingan?" Then he saw that King Mahākappina had formerly, when he was a weaver, made an offering of a Thingan to a thousand Pakkekabuddhas, and that in the time of the Parā Kassapa he had made an offering of twenty thousand Thingans to twenty thousand Rahans. Extending both his sacred hands, he called to them, "Come, Rahans! in order to terminate all suffering, be earnest in performing good deeds." Becoming Rahandas with the eight priestly utensils, they flew up into the sky, and alighting at the sacred feet of Para Taken, remained in adoration.

The merchants entering the city of Kukkuvati presented themselves before Queen Anoga, and said to her, "King Mahakappina and his thousand nobles. have gone away to become Rahans with Parā Taken; he directs your Majesty to remain in the enjoyment of the royal power, and has instructed us to ask from your Majesty a present of three hundred thousand." Queen Anoga said, "Brothers, why did King Mahākappina give my brothers three hundred thousand?" The merchants replied, "Hearing that there was the jewel, the Para, he gave us a hundred thousand; hearing that there was the jewel, the law, he gave us a hundred thousand; and hearing that there was the jewel, the priesthood, he gave us a hundred thousand." The queen, saying, "The Para, the law, and the priesthood are indeed the three jewels," made the merchants a present of nine hundred thousand (pieces of gold).

The manuscript has "will these people become wearers of the powerful and glorious Thabet and Thingan ?"

The queen said to the wives of the thousand nobles, "King Mahākappina has gone away to become a Rahan with Para Taken, I shall therefore likewise go and become a Rahan with Para Taken." The wives of the nobles said, "We also will go with you and become Rahans with Para Taken."

Queen Anoga with the thousand wives of the nobles riding in carriages, started off on their journey. When they came to the three rivers, thinking steadily upon, and fixing their faith in the virtues of the Parā, the law, and the priesthood successively, they went on to the water in their carriages; the surface of the water became like a stone slab, and not even the edges of the wheels were wetted. After crossing the three rivers they came to the banyan-tree; when they saw Para Taken they did homage to him, and remaining at a respectful distance, said to him, "Lord and master, the great King Mahākappina and his thousand nobles have gone away to become Rahans with my lord the Para, where are they now?" Parā Taken replied, "You will see them directly, stay here one moment." Then he preached the law to Queen Anoga and her companions. The queen and the nobles' wives all became Sotāpans. The queen asked permission to become a Rahan. Parā Taken preached the law which extends (the truth). The queen and the thousand nobles' wives became Rahans. Then Para Taken showed them the priest Mahakappina and his companions; and the queen and her attendants when they saw them, did homage to them, saying, "My lords, you have reached the state of Rahandas, let us also become Rahandamas." Paying homage

[blocks in formation]

to Para Taken they begged him to confer on them the condition of Rahandas. Parā Taken gave them into the charge of the Rahandama Uppalavanna, who employed them in their duties as Rahans, and they all became Rahandamas.

END OF THE STORY OF MAHAKAPPINA-THERA.

CHAPTER IX.

STORY OF THE PROBATIONER PANDITA.

On one occasion Parā Taken while residing in the Getavana monastery preached the following discourse on the subject of the novice Pandita :—

In former times, when the Para Taken Kassapa attended by twenty thousand Rahans came to Benares, the people of the country entertained them hospitably and provided for their wants. The Para Taken preached as follows: "In this country some people make offerings of their own goods, but they do not incite others to do so; these, in whatever state they may hereafter be, have abundance of wealth, but they lack relations and attendants. Some people incite

others, but make no offerings themselves; these, in whatever state they may hereafter be, have numerous relations and attendants, but they lack wealth. Some people make offerings of their own goods and also incite others; these, in whatever state they may hereafter be, have abundance of wealth and numerous relations and slaves."

A Dārakā,1 after listening to this discourse invited Para Taken to receive an offering of a repast on the

[blocks in formation]

following day. Having first laid down his own money he incited the others, saying, "O townsmen, to-morrow I am going to provide Para Taken with food. Let each of you submit a written statement mentioning how many of the Rahans of Para Taken you can supply with food." Accordingly, the inhabitants submitted written statements separately, one engaging to supply with food a hundred, another fifty, another ten, another five. Among them was a very poor day-labourer named Mahādūta, who, when he was urged to contribute, submitted his written engagement to supply one priest. On his return home he said to his wife, "Mother!1 the inhabitants of the city are going to make offerings of food to-morrow to the Para Taken Kassapa and the twenty thousand priests, and have sent in lists to the Rahans." His wife said, "Very good, it is because we have never made any offerings that we are so poor."

The husband and wife then went out to work for hire. The man went to a Thuthe's house and split firewood, singing very pleasantly all the time he was at work. The Thuthe, pleased at the quantity of firewood he had split, said to him, "Ho! you Mahādūta, you have split a great deal of firewood; what makes you sing so happily over your work?" He replied, "My lord Thuthe, I am happy because I have sent in a written engagement to supply food to one Rahan to-morrow from my day's wages." The Thuthe, pleased with him, gave him eight Kunsas of Namathale3 rice. Mahādūta's wife also went to a Thuthe's wife to work

An interjection of astonishment or distress.

2 A small measure, about enough for one meal.
3 One kind of rice.

« PreviousContinue »