CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



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and Wessabhu, continued but a short time. But the Budhas 

 Kakusandha, Konagama and Kassapa, were diligent in 

 declaring their doctrines to their disciples, and their dis- 

 courses, gathas, &c, were numerous. They published their 

 precepts, and declared and established the Pratimoksha. 

 Upon their decease, and that of their immediate disciples, 

 others of various names, tribes, families and castes, became 

 priests, and perpetuated the religion for a long period. Thus, 

 as a bunch of flowers well tied together will not be blown 

 away, scattered, or destroyed by the wind, because it is well 

 tied, so after the death of these Budhas their religion con- 

 tinued long established, the doctrines having been fully 

 developed, and rules for the government of the priesthood 

 established. 



Upon hearing this explanation, Sariputta arose, and re- 

 moving his robe from one shoulder, placed his folded hands 

 to his head, and having worshipped Budha, said, Now, 

 Bagawa ! now O Blessed One ! promulgate the precepts and 

 declare to the priests the Pratimoksha, that this religion may 

 be established and continue a long time. To this he replied, 

 Wait, Sariputta, wait; the Tatagata knows the proper 

 time. It is not yet the season for the Teacher to enact 

 precepts or to declare the Pratimoksha. Whenever any 

 impurity shall arise among the priests, then the Teacher will 

 enact precepts for the removal of the evil. As circumstances 

 arise, he will appoint the necessary institutions. At present 

 the priests are pure, there is no fault among them. Having 

 thus announced his intended mode of proceeding, he left 

 Weranja at the end of the rainy season, visited Benares, an J 

 afterwards proceeded to Wessali. The village Kalandaka 

 was near the city of Wessali, the son of the chief man of the 

 village being a young man named Sudinria. Coming to 

 Wessali on business, he heard Budha preach, and being much 

 impressed with what he heard, he waited till the congregation 



