188 



BUDDHISM. 



lay state. Make up your mind, Sudinno, to possess this 

 property and perform merits. 



Let us say this, O layman, if you will not become angry. — 

 Say, child Sudinno, said the father. Well then, O layman, 

 get a large sack, fill it with the gold coins and the gold, put it 

 into a cart, and throw it into the current in the middle of the 

 river. If it be asked why. On account of these things may 

 arise either fear, trembling, horripilation or trouble in keeping 

 it. Then neither of these will happen to thee. When he had 

 thus spoken, the venerable Sudinno's father became displeased, 

 and said :-^0 child Sudinno, how can you speak thus ? 



Then the father of the venerable Sudinno called the 

 former wife of the venerable Sudinno and said : — Because, O 

 woman, you are dear and pleasing, it may be my son Sudinno 

 will obey your word ; if so, it will be well. Then the former 

 wife of the venerable Sudinno embracing- his feet, said this to 

 the venerable Sudinno :— With what kind of expectation, O 

 dear lord, do you practise the Brahmachariya ? (1)— I do not, 

 O sister, live as a celebic for the purpose of receiving a divine 

 female, (said Sudinno.) 



Then the former wife of the venerable Sudinno said :• — 

 from this day do you intend to call me sister ; and fainted and 

 fell on the floor. 



Then Sudinno said to his father:— Q layman, give me the 

 food which is proper to be given, but don't bother me. 



Eat, O child Sudinno. Then the mother and father of 

 the venerable Sudinno with their own hands provided him 



(U It appears that in those days men having become dissatis- 

 fied with their wives, became ascetics in order to accumulate merits, 

 on account of which they would be able to marry a most beautiful 

 goddess after death. Hence this question of the wife. 



