1838.] Pali Buddhistical Annals. 995 



Immediately after the departure of Wassakaro the brahman prime minister of M&- 

 gadha, Bhagawa', thus addressed the revered A'nando : — A'nando, depart ; what- 

 ever the number of bhikkhus may be who are maintained for the welfare of Rdjaga- 



up their union: what shall we do ? Maharaja, in that case, raise some discussion 

 in reference to the Wajjians in the midst of your counsellors. Thereupon I shall 

 observe to you: Maharaja, what do you want with them ? Let them occupy them- 

 selves with the agricultural and commercial affairs of their own (realm). Having 

 offered this remonstrance I shall quit (the council). Thereupon you should say: 

 what does this brahman mean by interdicting our discussion regarding the Wajjians. 

 In the forenoon of that day I shall send off some tribute to the Wajjians. Contriv- 

 ing to intercept that, and bringing a charge against me, without either binding or 

 flogging me, completely cut off all my hair. As T am the person by whom the ram- 

 parts and ditches of thy capital were formed, and as I know the strong and weak, 

 the high and low parts (of thy fortifications), I will tell (the Wajjians) that I am 

 able to remove any obstacle you can raise. On your hearing that this scheme (has 

 been adopted by them) : say, let them come. All this the raja acted up to. 



The Wajjians hearing of his (Wassaka'ro's) departure (for Wesdli) some decided 

 thus: if the brahman come, he should not be permitted to cross the river. Others 

 again observed : he (Aja'tasattu) has so treated him, because he advocated our 

 cause. That being the case, they said (to the guards who went to stop him) : fel- 

 lows let him come. He proceeded on, and being asked by the Wajjians for what 

 misconduct he had been so treated, he explained what had been preconcerted. After 

 observing it was most unjust that he should be so severely punished for so slight an 

 offence they inquired : what office hadst thou there ? He replied : I was there 

 judicial minister. They rejoined : let the same office be filled by thee here. He 

 most ably administered justice : and the youths of the ( WaJJi) rulers attended him, 

 to acquire their accomplishments. 



He who had thus acquired the reputation of a virtuous character, on a certain day 

 taking aside one of the Lichchhawi rulers (mysteriously) asked: do people plough a 

 field ? Yes, they do. By coupling a pair of bullocks together ? Yes, by coupling a 

 pair of bullocks together. Another (of the Lichchhawi rulers) having inquired : 

 what is it the Achariyo has mysteriously been saying ? and on its being explained to 

 him, incredulous, he remarked : he will not confide the truth to me ; and quarrelled 

 with that person. The brahman, upon another occasion taking another Lichchhawi 

 aside significantly asked : with what curry did you eat (your rice) ? and said no more. 

 Another having been told what was said; also incredulous, similarly quarrelled with 

 that person. The brahman upon a subsequent occasion, taking another Lichchhawi 

 aside, asked him in a whisper— art thou a mere beggar? He inquired: who has 

 said so? and the brahman replied : that Lichchhawi. Again upon another occasion, 

 taking another aside he inquired : Art thou a coward ? and on being asked who 

 said so? he mentioned the name of some other Lichchhawi. Thus by telling to 

 one person that which no other person had ever said, in the course of three years, 

 he so completely disunited these rulers, one from another, that no two of them 

 would walk the same road together. 



When matters had been brought into this state, he caused the tocsin to be sound- 

 ed as usual. The Lichchhawi rulers disregarded the call saying : let the rich and 

 the valiant assemble : (we are the beggars and coioards.) The brahman seut a 

 mission to his raja, saying : this is the proper time, let him come quickly. The raja, 

 on hearing this announcement, assembled his forces by the beat of drums, and set 

 out. The Wesdlians on receiving intimation thereof, beat the tocsin, proclaiming : 

 let us not allow the raja to cross the river. Ou hearing this call also, they refused 



