536 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



able to escape, he was in the habit of breaking their legs and wing- 

 bones and throwing them all together in a heap. This was the cause 

 of his suffering in a later existence. One day, however, he bestowed 

 alms on a monk, saying, "May I obtain the highest Fruits of the 

 religion you profess." In consequence of this meritorious deed he 

 was enabled to attain Arahatship in a later existence. (322) 



Book III. Story 8 Nanda the Herdsman. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZA 10 = 42. 



Nanda was a herdsman of Anathapindika. One day he went to his 

 master's house to listen to the Teacher and was established in the 

 Fruit of Conversion. He entertained the Teacher for seven days, and 

 when the latter departed, accompanied him on his way for a consider- 

 able distance, and finally bidding him farewell, turned back. He had 

 not gone far when he was shot and killed by the stray arrow of a 

 hunter. The monks reported the incident to the Teacher, and re- 

 marked that if the latter had not gone to visit Nanda, Nanda would 

 not have died. " You are greatly mistaken," said the Teacher ; " there 

 is no such thing as escape from death." Then the Teacher solemnly 

 warned them that ill-regulated thoughts do a man much more harm 

 than external enemies, and pronounced Stanza 42, at the conclusion 

 of which many were established in the Fruits. (No one asked the 

 Teacher about Nanda's deed in a previous existence; therefore the 

 Teacher said nothing about it.) (322-5) 



Book III. Story 9. Soreyya, Elder. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZA 11 =43. 



"When the Teacher was in residence at Savatthi, there was a treas- 

 urer's son named Soreyya living in the city of Soreyya. One day, 

 accompanied by a friend, he entered a splendid carriage, and, surrounded 

 by a considerable retinue, drove out of the city for a dip in the swim- 

 ming-pool. As they passed out of the city gate Soreyya caught sight 

 of the Elder Maha Kaccayana in the act of putting on his monastic 

 robes. The golden hue of the Elder's body attracted the attention of 

 Soreyya, who immediately exclaimed, " Would that this Elder were 

 my wife ; or else that the hue of my wife's body were like the hue of 

 his body." In consequence of this wicked wish Soreyya was instantly 

 transformed into a woman. Soreyya, much embarrassed, immediately 

 left the carriage, joined a caravan-train bound for Takkasila and was 

 eventually married to the son of a treasurer of that city, becoming the 

 mother of two sons. (325-7) 



