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JOURNAL R. A. S, (CEYLON). [YoL. II., PART II. 



The king of the gods (Sakra) being moved by the effulgence 

 of my austerities, assuming the form of a mendicant Brahmin, 

 approached me to obtain food. 



Seeing him standing at the door of my residence, I put into 

 his dish the greens I had brought from the forest, which were 

 unmixed with oil or salt. 



Giving him these, I entered my pansala, and without seeking 

 for other food I placed my bowl in an inverted position. 



A second and a third time he came, and I thrice gave him 

 (what I had collected) with an unshaken and imperturbed mind. 



My body was not emaciated in consequence of that (abstinence 

 from food), but I spent the time in mental enjoyment. 



Had I met with one worthy of receiving alms throughout a 

 whole month, or two months, I would have given these eminent 

 alms with an unshaken and imperturbed mind. 



I did not give these alms hoping to receive thereby honor or 

 profit, but I performed the actions hoping to become thereby a 

 Buddha. 



End of Akitti Tdpasa, 



Afterwards I was a Brahmin named Sankha, and, intending 

 to pass over the ocean, I went to the port. 



I there saw one who had subjected his passions coming on the 

 high road from the desert, walking on the hard and parched 

 ground. 



Seeing him coming on the road I thus thought : 

 < Here is a field for obtaining merit by any person desirous of 

 virtue. 



6 The husbandman at a suitable season perceives a field, but 

 if he neglect to sow it with seed, he obtains.no profit from it. 



' So I, being desirous of merit, perceive a field for its attainment, 

 of pre-eminent excellence : if I do not perform an act of 

 kindness I shall derive no merit therefrom. 



