732 Examination of the Pali Euddhistical Annals. [Sept. 



" Thereupon the raja causing superb seats to be prepared within the palace, 

 said to them, ' Proceed ;' and as they entered, ■ take (added he) each of you the 

 seat appropriate to yourself;' they, without discrimination, (as to seniority, or 

 superiority in sanctity) seated themselves, some on rich seats and others on 

 wooden forms. The raja noticing this procedure, and being convinced that 

 there was no spiritual merit among them, the appropriate repast having been 

 served to them, allowed them to depart. 



" While he was in the observance of this practice, on a certain day, standing 

 at the window, he noticed passing the palace yard, the S&mantro Nigr6dho who 

 had overcome, and who kept in subjection and thoroughly controled, the 

 dominion of the passions : and who was gifted with the most perfect decorum in 

 demeanour. Inquiring ' who is this Nigr6dho ?' he was told, he was the son 

 of prince Sumano, the eldest of the sons of the raja Bindusa'ro." 



The narrative of the Atthakathd then enters into the personal history 

 of Nigrodho, the flight of his mother pregnant of him from Pdtilipura, 

 on the occasion of his father, and the other sons of Bindusa'ro, being 

 massacred — his birth, education and admission into Buddhistical ordi- 

 nation, and ultimately Nigrodho's conversion of his uncle Asoko, 

 who was then supreme ruler of India, to the Buddhistical faith. 



The Atthakathd also contains the account of the conversion, and sub- 

 sequent ordination into priesthood, of Tisso, the younger brother of 

 Asoko, who had already been elevated to the dignity of " Opardja" 

 (which would appear to be the recognition of the heir presumptive) as 

 well as of the ordination of prince Aggibrahma', the husband of 

 Asoko's daughter Sanghamitta'; and finally, that of his son Ma- 

 hindo, celebrated for his conversion of Ceylon, and of the aforesaid 

 daughter Sanghamitta'. For all these details, also, I am compelled, 

 from want of space, to refer to the fifth chapter of the Mahdwanso, 

 resuming again my translation of the Atthakathd from the point at 

 which the incidents which led to the third convocation being held, 

 are set forth. 



While these advantages and honors were conferred on (the Buddhistical) 

 religion, the heretics (tithayd) deprived of those advantages and honors, and 

 finally, unable to obtain even food and raiment, out of covetousness of those 

 benefits and distinctions, having assumed Buddhistical ordination, set forth each 

 their own peculiar creeds, saying " This is Dhammo." " That is WinayoS* 

 Although they were unable to obtain regular ordination, shaving their own heads 

 and clothing themselves in yellow robes, they sauntered about the wih&ros, and 

 intruded themselves during the performance of the *Up6satho and fPaw&rana 

 rites, as well as at the XSanghakamma and §Ganakamma meetings of the priest- 

 hood. With these persons, the bhikkhus would not perform the Uposatho rites. 



* Periodical rites, and ceremonies regulated by the changes of the moon. 

 + Final and conclusive rites and ceremonies. 



X A meeting of priests exceeding five in number for religious purposes. 

 § A meeting of priests below five in number. 



