BURLINGAME. — BUDDHAGHOSa's DHAMMAPADA COMMENTARY. 4S9 



Buddha accepted the invitation. The Brahman asked him whether it 

 was possible to attain rebirth in heaven by a simple Act of Faith. 

 Buddha instanced the case of Matthakundali, and then said : " It is 

 not one hundred, or two hundred, — there is no counting the number 

 of those who have attained rebirth in heaven by making an Act of 

 Faith in me." To convince the bystanders, he summoned Mattha- 

 kundali, who appeared in all his glory and confirmed the Buddha's 

 words. Buddha then dwelt upon the importance of a right attitude of 

 the thoughts and of a believing heart, and pronounced Stanza 2. 

 (33-5) 



At the conclusion of the stanza eighty-four thousand persons 

 obtained Comprehension of the Law. The god Matthakundali was 

 established in the Fruit of Conversion ; likewise Adinnapubbaka, who 

 devoted his great wealth to the religion of Buddha, (37) 



Book I. Story 3. Tissa the Fat, Elder. 16 



ILLUSTRATING STANZAS 3^: = 3-4. 



Tissa, a son of the sister of Buddha's father, became a monk late in 

 life. He lived well on the Buddha's alms, and spent most of his time 

 sitting in smoothed garments in the Buddha's own room. He grew to 

 be fat and well-liking. One day he so far presumed on his kinship 

 with the Buddha as to snub some monks who came to pay their re- 

 spects. The monks resented this ; whereupon the Elder, informing 

 them who he was, threatened to extirpate their whole race, and went 

 and complained to the Buddha. The latter, after asking him a few 

 questions about his behavior, told him that he was in the wrong, and 

 directed him to apologize to the monks. This he refused to do. The 

 monks remarked that he was strangely obstinate and intractable ; 

 whereupon the Buddha, informing them that it was not the first time 

 he had so conducted himself, related the following story of the past: 

 (37-9) 



Devala and Narada. Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta reigned 

 at Benares, two ascetics, Devala and Narada, obtained lodging for the 

 night in Potter's Hall. After Narada had lain down, Devala, in order 

 to start a quarrel, lay down in the door- way. Narada, having occasion 

 to go out during the night, trod on Devala's matted locks. Devala 

 then changed his posture, putting his head where his feet had been. 

 "When Narada returned, he trod on his neck. In spite of Narada : s 

 protests that it was all an accident, Devala cursed him, saying, " When 



16 Cf. Rogers, pp. 18-24. 



