1848.] Gleanings in Buddhism. 77 



" This Raja had before the occurrence of these events been instigated 

 by Devadatta, brother-in-law of Buddha, to conspire against the life of 

 his own parents. Stung with remorse, he had vowed to proceed, after 

 he should have obtained the relics, on various pilgrimages and wander- 

 ings in the desert and forests, to endeavour to atone in some degree for 

 his wickedness. 



" The Raja had spent seven years in this manner when Indra despatch- 

 ed his Minister, Wessanukam, requiring Ajatasatru to return forthwith 

 to his kingdom and not to molest the peasantry by quartering his fol- 

 lowers upon them. His Majesty obeyed the high injunction, and return- 

 ed to Rajagriha. He here proclaimed his intention to raise a glorious 

 Chaittya in honor of Buddha to hold the relics he had obtained from 

 Samoula Raja." 



Indra, whose presence appears equally indispensible where great Indian 

 hierarchical events are to be celebrated and recorded as in the struc- 

 ture of its history and romance, " descended from his bright abode, 

 escorted by a glittering host of 99,991,909 Devattas, blowing trumpets 

 and beating sonorous instruments. He soon fixed upon a spot for the 

 relic temple, and by the efficacy of powerful spells, he surrounded the 

 site with lines of defence composed of invisible elephants and of other 

 wild beasts." 



" Ajatasatru having found a propitious moment took a slab of precious 

 stone and wrote or engraved thereon, " May a poor Prince find this." 

 He then engraved the following sentence upon a plate of gold : — 

 " He who was poor did not see Buddha, — for this reason he was poor, 

 although he reigned over an extensive empire." 



The slab and the plate were then placed below the golden box which 

 enclosed the relics, and all were deposited beneath a splendid fane. 



"Ajatasatru, or Chatta-satru, died without leaving any legitimate 

 children, and the kingdom of Rajagaha or Rajagriha (or as it seems 

 also to be here meant Inthapattha or Indrapreshta, or Indrapuri, or 

 Ayodia, where had also resided a king of Pataliputra*) had no legitimate 

 ruler for the space of three lives." 



Awadi is another name given to this country. 



"Ajatasatru went to the infernal shades, because his evil deeds 

 outweighed his good actions. Yama siezed him, and imprisoned him 

 * Vol. XI. As. Res. p. 62. 



