18 EajeBclralala Mitra — On the Barly Life of AsoJca. [Jai?". 



Tirthikas, wishing for honors daily seduced credulous people. Then those 

 arrogant ones, longing for fame and respect, proceeded to visit Vitasoka, the 

 brother of Asoka. Appearing before Vitasoka, the son of Yindusara, they 

 blessed him, and stood in front of him. Vitasoka, seeing them in front of 

 him, saluted them, and enquired the object of their visit. ' Reverend sirs, 

 what has brought you so anxious to this place ? You are always welcome to 

 relate whatever you wish.' Thus encouraged those arrogant Tirthikas, 

 looking at each other, thus addressed the prince : ' May success always 

 attend you, great king (Ifahdrdja) ; may you always prosper ; may you be 

 free from all fear. Since we have come to advise you for your good, it is 

 meet that we should tell you all. Should you wish for a blessed hereafter, 

 listen to our advice. Ours is the true religion, alike salutary here and 

 hereafter. Those who know best declare it to be the best of all sys- 

 tems of religion. Therefore, learned king, believe in it, listen to our reli- 

 gion, and follow it with ardour. Then every thing will prosper about you ; 

 and, overcoming all your enemies you will become a universal monarch, 

 (Ghahravarti). The religion of the Bauddhas is not true, for it offers no 

 salvation (moTcsha), Therefore that religion should never be listened to. 

 Since those shaven-j^ated, vile destroyers of their family preach a false reli- 

 gion, overthrowing all caste and all duty — men, devoid of the religion of the 

 Vedas, un-Brahmanical in their conduct, and vilely passionate — they should, 

 O king, on no account be respected by you. No Bauddha should be revered, 

 nor seen, nor touched, nor worshipped, nor spoken to, nor dwelt with 

 in the same house, nor visited by any one. You should on no account eat 

 with them, nor present anything to a Buddhist sanctuary. Even when by 

 mistake men listen to the doctrines of the Bauddhas with regard, they suffer 

 from various calamities, and at last repair to hell. Hence, king, should 

 you wish for a blessed hereafter, never listen to the doctrines of the Baud- 

 dhas with respect. Should by delusion, one, looking at the merits of their 

 religion, accept it, he, fallen here, will be translated to hell hereafter. For 

 these reasons, O great king, accept not the doctrine of Buddha, but, abiding 

 by our canons, follow the true religion with devotion. By so doing you 

 will here and hereafter enjoy great blessings. No evil shall ever befall 

 you, and you will proceed on by the true path. Listening to our words, weigh 

 well, which is good and which is evil, and for your own advantage follow 

 the path of duty.' Vitasoka heard this address of the Tirthikas, but re- 

 mained unconvinced of their truth. The Tirthikas addressed him again 

 and again, and at last brought him convinced, under their control."* 



