38 Journ. of the Asiat. Soc. of Bengal. (March & April, 1915. 
Finding that it is very rare for a Buddha to appear on 
this earth and for a being to be born as a man, or to become a 
a monk, or to obtain a perfect code of moral laws, or to get a 
good spiritual guide—the sages desirous of doing good to their 
selves, and wishing to attain the two paths with their fruits 
should endeavour, with earnestness, to hear the So-sor-thar-pa 
(9, 10). 
The Buddhas, steady in renunciation, who were the chiefs 
of monks and masters of disciplinary laws, desirous of attain- 
ing the true emancipation, perpetually guarded the So-sor-thar- 
pa (11). 
Even in millions of ages it is difficult to hear, receive and 
grasp the So-sor-thar-pa—to follow it up is much more difficult 
(12). 
Blessed is the birth of Buddhas, blessed too is the exposi- 
tion of dharma, harmony in the community of monks is a bliss 
and blissful is the devotion of those who are in harmony (13).' 
Blessed is the sight of a Buddhist (arya), blessed too is the 
association with a holy spirit and absence of the sight of sinful 
persons is indeed a perpetual bliss (14). 
Blessed is the sight of one who observes moral laws, 
blessed too is the sight of a learned person, the sight of Arhats 
is a bliss for getting rid of rebirths (15). 
s 
essed is the river which has pleasant banks and blessed 
subdued their senses, have grown old in peaceful monasteries 
and have screened their youthful age in the forest of learned 
men (17). 
[Speech of the monk who recites the So-sor-thar-pa.] 
Teacher is about: to perish, it behoves the community of monks 
to practise discipline. Tathagata Arbat attained the full Bud- 
dhistic enlightenment : some others too following him achieved 
wi : 0 
enlightenment. Our community of monks, devotees of Lord 
Bu dha, are engaged here in petty concerns. Our acts being 
sordid we should consider what should be the foremost duty of 
our community. : 
Let us ask the approval, and enquire about the purity, of 
the monks who are not come. After that I should repeat the 
following :— 
1 Dhammapada, Buddha lg = 4k ; 
2 Dhammapada, Sokhavaggas’ abide: 
