1837.] Examination of the Pdli Buddhistical Annals. 731 



at which the circumstances that gave rise to the third convocation 

 occurred. It is here of importance to notice that the existence of 

 « version of the Atthakathd on the Pitakattaya at that period is speci- 

 fically mentioned. 



The following is the passage I allude to : — 



44 From the following day, Tisso entered upon the study of the word of 

 Buddho. Tben becoming a sdmanero, and postponing the study of the Wena- 

 yapitakan (as the most difficult) he acquired the knowledge of all (the rest) of 

 the word of Buddho, together with the Atthakathd. From the time of his being 

 ordained Upasampadd, continuing to be protected (by Siggawo and Chanda- 

 waggi) he became master of the (whole) Pitakattaya. The said two persons, 

 the one the preceptor, and the other the ordainer of Moggaliputtatisso having 

 deposited the whole of the word of Buddho in his hands, and lived the ordinary 

 measure of human existence, demised. 



" Subsequently thereto, Moggaliputtatisso, devoting himself to the pre- 

 scribed course of sanctified meditation, and attaining arahathood, extensively 

 propagated the Winayo. 



** At this period, the rajaBiNDUSA'RO had an hundred sons. All these Asoko 

 destroyed, reserving only prince Tisso, who was born of the same mother with 

 himself. This murderer having reigned a period of four years without celebrat- 

 ing his inauguration, at the close of the fourth year, which was the 218th after 

 the parinibbdnan of Tathagato, entered upon the supreme sovereignty of all 

 Jambudipo, as one united empire. By the preternatural manifestations which 

 attended his inauguration these miracles were wrought." 



These miracles and manifestations will be found in the Mahdwanso. 

 They would occupy too much space in this article, and are not essential 

 to the continuity of the history of the Buddhistical scriptures. 



The Atthakathd proceeds thus : 



" This raja for a period of three years from his inauguration, lived out of the 

 pale of Buddhism, an heretic ; and in the fourth year became a convert to the 

 word of Buddho. His father Bindusa'ro was of the brihman faith. He 

 distributed (daily) rice-alms among eight thousand heretics, consisting of brah- 

 mans, and to brahmanical heretics of the Pandardnga and other sects. While 

 Asoko was continuing to bestow these alms within his palace, in the same 

 manner that it had been conferred by his father, on a certain occasion, while 

 standing at a window, having noticed these persons taking their repast with 

 unbecoming avidity, without regard to decorum, restraint over their appetites 

 and devoid of all decency in manners, thus meditated ; * Surely it is requisite that 

 alms, guch as these, should be conferred with discrimination ; and in an appro- 

 priate manner also.' 



" Having come to this resolution, he thus addressed his courtiers ' Go, my 

 friends, and each of you fail not to conduct into my palace those fraternities of 

 brahmans w r hom you esteem to be pious characters, that T may bestow alms on 

 them.' These officers replying : ' Lord ! most willingly,' and conducting to his 

 presence the several Pandardnga, Jiivafcd, Nigathd and other devotees, said, 

 4 These, maharaja, are our arahantd.' 

 4 z 2 



