Vol. VI, No. 2.1 Buddhist Leqends of Asoka. Q\\ 



[N.S.] 



as well as his other movements are very seemly. He must 

 have acquired some transcendent virtue." The king was 

 pleased immediately on seeing him and at once felt an inclina- 

 tion and attachment towards him. The cause of this was that 

 he was the eldest brother of the king, the merchant . at the 

 time of doing that charity in the previous life. "An inclina- 

 tion towards somebody arises either through an association 

 with him in a former birth, or through the present obligation 

 he is under, as a lotus springs up in water." The king thus 

 feeling a strong inclination and respect towards the Samanera, 

 ordered his ministers to summon him. Being impatient at 

 their delay he again despatched some two or three servants to 

 tell him to come quickly. Presently the Samanera presented 

 himself before him in his usual way. He pointed to him a seat, 

 befitting his rank, and requested him to take it. He, looking 

 around him to see that there was no other Bhikkhu present, 

 approached the royal throne, on which the umbrella had been 

 raised, and made a sign to the king to take the bowl. The 

 king, seeing him approaching the throne, thought within him- 

 self : ■ This Samanera would become the lord of this palace this 

 very day.' The Samanera, presenting the bowl to the king, 

 ascended the throne. The king ordered various articles of food 

 to be brought before him that had been prepared for himself. 

 The Samanera accepted as much as was necessary for his susten- 

 ance. When he had taken his food, the king said : ' Do you 

 know the exhortation given you by your teacher ?" " Yes, my 

 lord, a portion of it." " Tell it to me also, Sir." " Very 

 well, my lord." So he recited to him, by way of returning 

 thanks, the Appamadavagsa (section on Heedfulne ) of the 

 Dhammapada as suitable for the king. 



When the king heard, ' carefulness is the source of immor- 

 tality and carelessness is that of death,' he said, ' 1 have 

 understood, Sir, please complete it.' The Samanera at the vnd 

 of returning thanks received thirty-two fixed portions of food. 

 Next day he took along with him thirty-two Bhikkhu- and 

 penetrated into the private apartments of the kin _ Their b 

 took his food. The king requested him : "Let another thirty- 

 two Bhikkhus take their food with you to-morrow/ ' In this 

 way increasing the number day by day, the king stop] I the 

 sanctioned food of sixty-thousand Brahman mendicant and 

 apportioned it forever to as many Bhikkhus in the inner 

 apartment. By the virtue of the inclination to Nigrodha shown 

 by the king Nigrodhatthera established the king along a ith his 

 court in the three Saranafl (or Refuses) and in the five Slla 

 precepts. Nigrodhatthera too instilled into the king a firm 

 faith in the Buddha's teaching, a faith tinner than that of the 

 ordinary unconvert* I man. The king, on hifl part command 

 a monastery, namely, the Isokarama, to be built, and ipplied 

 sixty-thousand Bhikkhus with boiled rice every day. W aJ > 



