134 



BUDHI83I. 



The legends of Budhism are numerous, many are con- 

 tained in the Pansya panas Jataka book, and in the Rasa 

 Wahini. (56) The Singhalese translation of these latter tales 

 being contained in Saddharma Alankara, I give a sketch of 

 one of them exemplifying the pursuit of knowledge under 

 difficulties. 



HISTORY OF DAKMA SOXDA. 



Long after the doctrines of Budhism had been forgotten 

 and a comparatively short time previous to the appear- 

 ance of another Budha, a desire to know what the doctrines 

 of that religion were, sprang up in the minds of individuals. 

 Among them was a King of Benares, named Dharma Sonda. 

 After he was established in his kingdom, he became deeply 

 impressed with the importance of religious knowledge. He 



8 C399o-j6s23^9 iSo^553(5 c8e^es3§ &&yj&&o8 6c30o§, tan kimmannasi 

 maliaraj a khattiyassa chepi ijjheiya dhanenewa dhannenawa rajai 

 tenewa jatarupenawa kbattiyo pissassa pubbutthayi pachchani psrt 

 kinkara patissawi manapachari piyawadini brahmauo pissaaaa 

 wesso pissassa suddo pissassa pubbutthayi pachcha.nipa.ti kinkesa 

 patissawi manapachari piyawadi. "What thiukest thou grth, 

 king, that if one of the khastriye (warrior) tribe abounded in wealed 

 grain, silver and gold members of "the khastriya tribe rise befog 

 him and go to bed after him, await his commands, behave accordinr 

 to his pleasure and use pleasant words, so do the Brahmins, vaysyas 

 and the suddras, rise before him, go to bed after him await his 

 commands, behave according to his pleasure and use pleasant 

 words." (Madhurita Suttan Majjhimanikaya.) 



(56.) The Pansiyapanasjatake (literally) 550 births, is the Com- 

 mentary on the Jataka gathas. Rasawahine forms no part of the 

 sacred books of Budhism. It is however written in easy but very 

 elegant Pali, and is generally the first book the Pali student is 

 required to construe. 



