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Sakka, the king of the Devas, assuming the appearance of a young Brahman, walked in front, and said: 4
"He who teaches self-control with those who have learned self-control; the redeemer with those whom he has redeemed; the Blessed One with those to whom he has given peace, is entering Rjagaha! Hail to the Buddha, our Lord! Honor to his name and blessings to all who take refuge in him." And Sakka intoned this stanza: 5
"So blest is an age in which Buddhas arise,
So blest is the truth's proclamation.
So blest is the Sangha, concordant and wise,
So blest a devout congregation!6
"And if by all the truth were known,
More seeds of kindness would be sown,
And richer crops of good deeds grown."7
When the Blessed One had finished his meal, and had cleansed his bowl and his hands, the king sat down near him and thought: 8
"Where may I find a place for the Blessed One to live in, not too far from the town and not too near, suitable[Pg 70] for going and coming, easily accessible to all people who want to see him, a place that is by day not too crowded and by night not exposed to noise, wholesome and well fitted for a retired life? There is my pleasure-garden, the bamboo grove Veluvana, fulfilling all these conditions. I shall offer it to the brotherhood whose head is the Buddha." 9
The king dedicated his garden to the brotherhood, saying: "May the Blessed One accept my gift." 10
Then the Blessed One, having silently shown his consent and having gladdened and edified the Magadha king by religious discourse, rose from his seat and went away. 11
At that time Sriputta and Moggallna, two Brahmans and chiefs of the followers of Sajaya, led a religious life. They had promised each other: "He who first attains Nirvna shall tell the other one." 1
Sriputta seeing the venerable Assaji begging for alms, modestly keeping his eyes to the ground and dignified in deportment,[1] exclaimed: "Truly this samana has entered the right path; I will ask him in whose name he has retired from the world and what doctrine he professes." Being addressed by Sriputta, Assaji replied: "I am a follower of the Buddha, the Blessed One, but being a novice I can tell you the substance only of the doctrine." 2
Said Sriputta: "Tell me, venerable monk, it is the substance I want." And Assaji recited the stanza: 3
"The Buddha did the cause unfold
Of all the things that spring from causes.
And further the great sage has told
How finally all passion pauses."4
[Pg 71] Having heard this stanza, Sriputta obtained the pure and spotless eye of truth and said: "Now I see clearly, whatsoever is subject to origination is also subject to cessation. If this be the doctrine I have reached the state to enter Nirvna which heretofore has remained hidden from me." 5
Sriputta went to Moggallna and told him, and both said: "We will go to the Blessed One, that he, the Blessed One, may be our teacher." 6
When the Buddha saw Sriputta and Moggallna coming from afar, he said to his disciples, "These two monks are highly auspicious." 7
When the two friends had taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, the Holy One said to his other disciples: "Sriputta, like the first-born son of a world-ruling monarch, is well able to assist the king as his chief follower to set the wheel of the law rolling." 8
And the people were annoyed. Seeing that many distinguished young men of the kingdom of Magadha led a religious life under the direction of the Blessed One, they became angry and murmured: "Gotama Sakyamuni induces fathers to leave their wives and causes families to become extinct." 9
When they saw the bhikkhus, they reviled them, saying: "The great Sakyamuni has come to Rjagaha subduing the minds of men. Who will be the next to be led astray by him?" 10
The bhikkhus told it to the Blessed One, and the Blessed One said: "This murmuring, O bhikkhus, will not last long. It will last seven days. If they revile you, O bhikkhus, answer them with these words: 11
"'It is by preaching the truth that Tathgatas lead men. Who will murmur at the wise? Who will blame the virtuous? Who will condemn self-control, righteousness, and kindness?'" 12
And the Blessed One proclaimed this verse: [Pg 72]
"Commit no wrong but good deeds do
And let thy heart be pure.
All Buddhas teach this doctrine true
Which will for aye endure."13
At this time there was Anthapindika, a man of unmeasured wealth, visiting Rjagaha. Being of a charitable disposition, he was called "the supporter of orphans and the friend of the poor." 1
Hearing that the Buddha had come into the world and was stopping in the bamboo grove near the city, he set out in the very night to meet the Blessed One. 2
And the Blessed One saw at once the sterling quality of Anthapindika's heart and greeted him with words of religious comfort. And they sat down together, and Anthapindika listened to the sweetness of the truth preached by the Blessed One. And the Buddha said: 3
"The restless, busy nature of the world, this, I declare, is at the root of pain. Attain that composure of mind which is resting in the peace of immortality. Self is but a heap of composite qualities, and its world is empty like a fantasy. 4
"Who is it that shapes our lives? Is it Ivara, a personal creator? If Ivara be the maker, all living things should have silently to submit to their maker's power. They would be like vessels formed by the potter's hand; and if it were so, how would it be possible to practise virtue? If the world had been made by Ivara there should be no such thing as sorrow, or calamity, or evil; for both[Pg 73] pure and impure deeds muse come from him. If not, there would be another cause beside him, and he would not be self-existent. Thus, thou seest, the thought of Ivara is overthrown. 5
