538 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



Eook IV, Story 1. The Monks who talked about tilling the Soil. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZAS 1-2 = 44-45. 



One evening five hundred monks who had accompanied the Teacher 

 on his rounds began to talk about the varieties of soil they had seen. 

 The Teacher told them that they might better be occupied with 

 tilling the soil of their hearts, and pronounced Stanzas 44-45, 

 at the end of which all five hundred monks attained Arahatship. 

 (333-5) 



Book IV. Story 2. The Elder who contemplated a Mirage. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZA 3 = 46. 



A certain monk who had made little progress in the practice of 

 meditation once saw a mirage. He immediately concentrated his 

 mind upon the following thought : " Just as this mirage appears sub- 

 stantial to those that are far off, but vanishes on nearer approach, so 

 also is this existence." Then, seeing a waterfall, he thought, "Just 

 as this spray is dissipated and no more seen, so also is this existence." 

 The Teacher, sitting in his Perfumed Chamber, became aware of the 

 monk's Attainment, and pronounced Stanza 46 ; whereupon the monk 

 attained Arahatship and returned, praising the golden body of the 

 Teacher. (335-7) 



Book IV. Story 3. Vidudabha. 



ILLUSTRATING STANZA 4 = 47. 



At Savatthi, lived Prince Pasenadi, son of the King of the Kosalans ; 

 at Vesali, a prince of the Licchavi line, named Mahali ; at Kusinara, 

 Prince Bandhula, son of the King of the Mallas. These three princes 

 resorted to a world -renowned teacher at Takkasila for instruction, and, 

 chancing to meet in a hall outside of the city, became warm friends. 

 After acquiring the various branches of learning, they took leave of 

 their teacher, departed together, and went to their several homes. 

 Pasenadi's father was so pleased with his son's attainments that he 

 made him king. Mahali devoted himself to the task of educating the 

 Licchavi princes, but over-exerting himself, lost the sight of his eyes ; 

 whereupon the princes erected a gate for him, and ever afterwards 

 remained his most devoted and loyal pupils. Bandhula received a 

 slight at the hands of the Malla princes, which made him so angry 

 that he determined to kill them and seize the throne. When he in- 

 formed his mother and father of his plan, they told him that it was 

 bound to fail, inasmuch as the kingdom of the Mallas was an heredi- 



