BURLINGAME. — BUDDHAGHOSA's DHAMMAPADA COMMENTARY. 497 

 Book I. Story 8. The Chief Disciples. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZAS 11-12 =11-12. 



The Future Buddha, after receiving recognition at the hands of 

 twenty-four Buddhas beginning with Dlpaiikara, and after fulfilling the 

 Perfections, was reborn in the Tusita heaven. Urged by the deities to 

 save the world, he made the Five Great Observations, was born of 

 Queen Maya, passed his youth in the enjoyment of great magnificence 

 in three mansions suited to the three seasons, beheld the Four Omin- 

 ous Sights, resolved to become a monk, renounced son and wife, was 

 greeted by Kisa GotamI, made the Great Retirement and the Great 

 Struggle, defeated the hosts of Mara, and attained omniscience under 

 the Bo-tree. At the request of Brahma he proclaimed the Law and 

 converted the Five Monks, Yasa and Fifty-four Companions, the Thirty 

 Young Nobles, and the Three Brothers ; after which he visited King 

 Bimbisara and accepted from him the grant of Bamboo Grove monas- 

 tery, where he took up his abode and Sariputta and Moggallana came 

 to him. (83-8) 



Upatissa (Sariputta) and Kolita (Moggallana) were born on the 

 same day and brought up in great luxury. They acquired a sense of 

 the impermanence of things while witnessing Mountain-top festivities, 

 and were for a time disciples of Sanjaya. Desiring something more 

 than he could give them, they travelled about India listening to vari- 

 ous teachers, and were converted to the religion of Buddha by Assaji. 

 After making an unsuccessful attempt to persuade Sanjaya to accom- 

 pany them, they went to the feet of Buddha, who admitted and pro- 

 fessed them as members of the Order and made them his chief 

 disciples. (88-96) 



The other disciples accuse Buddha of showing favoritism in bestow- 

 ing the highest dignity on new-comers and passing over what they 

 allege to be the prior claims of the Five Monks, Yasa and his Fifty- 

 four Companions, the Thirty Young Nobles, and the Three Brothers. 

 Buddha denies the charge and declares that it is his wont to bestow on 

 every man that for which he has made his wish. By way of illustra- 

 tion he relates the following stories of the past : (96-7) 



Maha Kala and Cula Kala. Annakondafma in his existence as 

 Cula Kala bestowed the gift of first-fruits nine times on the Buddha 

 Vipassi and for seven days bestowed great largess on the Buddha 

 Padumuttara, making the wish that he might be the first to compre- 

 hend the Law. The fact of his attaining this distinction was no proof 

 of favoritism, but rather the fruit of that earnest wish. (97-9) 

 vol. xlv. — 32 



