BURLINGAME. — BUDDHAGHOSA's DHAMMAPADA COMMENTARY. 531 

 Book III. Story 1. Meghiya, Elder. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZAS 1-2 = 33-34. 



According to a story, the details of which will be found in the Sut- 

 tanta entitled Meghiya, the Elder Meghiya made little progress in 

 wrestling with the flesh until the Teacher impressed upon him the im- 

 portance of bringing the thoughts into subjection, by pronouncing 

 Stanzas 33-34 ; whereupon Meghiya was established in the Fruit of 

 Conversion, and many others in the Three Fruits. (287-9) 



Book III. Story 2. A Certain Monk. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZA 3 = 35. 



Seventy monks once had the Teacher instruct them in the ascetic 

 practices which led to Arahatship, and went to a certain village named 

 Matika in the kingdom of Kosala to collect alms. A lay sister, mother 

 of the owner of the village, offered them hospitality, and provided 

 them with food and lodging during the three rainy months. At her 

 request the monks instructed her in the ascetic practices, which she 

 performed with such diligence that in advance of her instructors she 

 attained the Three Paths and Fruits and the Supernatural Faculties. 

 As she was thus enabled to know the precise needs of the monks, 

 thereafter she ministered to them so successfully that in a short time 

 they too attained Arahatship. At the close of the rainy season they 

 took leave of their hostess and returned to the Teacher. When the 

 latter remarked, " You look as if you had fared well," the monks 

 replied, " We did, indeed ; our hostess knew the secret desires of our 

 hearts, insomuch that no sooner did we think of our needs than she 

 immediately supplied them." (290-293) 



A certain monk heard this and was immediately seized with a desire 

 to enjoy so pleasant an experience. Accordingly he had the Teacher 

 instruct him in the ascetic practices, went to the house of the lay 

 sister, and accepted her offer of food and lodging. He found every- 

 thing exactly as the monks had represented it. But then the thought 

 occurred to him, " If I should entertain a sinful thought, she would 

 doubtless seize me by the top-knot, and treat me as people treat 

 thieves ; I had best get away from here." So he returned to the 

 Teacher and told the latter what had made him change his plans. 

 The Teacher admonished him to control his thoughts, pronounced 

 Stanza 35, thereby establishing many in the Fruits, and sent the monk 

 back to the house of the lay sister. The latter ministered to the needs 

 of the monk so successfully that in a short time he attained Arahat- 



