32 
[No. 1, 
Q. 0. Das— Note on the Buddhist Golden Booh, 
‘ Are you a male 1 ? ’ ‘ Yes, Venerable Sir.’ 
‘ Are you a free man 2 ? ’ { Yes, Venerable Sir.’ 
‘ Have you no debts 8 P ’ ‘I have no debts, Venerable Sir.* 
do in order to become released from being a serpent, and quickly to obtain 
human nature ? ’ Then this serpent gave himself the following answer : ‘ These 
monks of (jJakya lead indeed a virtuous, tranquil, holy life; they speak the truth ; 
they keep the precepts of morality, and are endowed with all virtues. If I could 
obtain the Pravrajyd ordination with them, I should be released from being a serpent 
and quickly obtain human nature.’ Then that serpent, in the shape of a youth, 
went to the Bhikklius, and asked them for the Pravrajyd ordination; the 
Bhikkhus conferred on him the ordination. At that time that serpent dwelt 
together with a certain Bhikkhu in the Jetavana Vihdra near its boundary wall. 
When his companion had gone out of the Vihdra for a walk at dawn, the serpent, 
who thought himself safe from discovery, fell asleep in his natural shape. The 
whole Vihdra was filled with the snake’s body; his winding jutted out of the 
window. When the Bhikkhu returned to the Vihdra he saw the snake’s body 
and became terrified, and cried out. The Bhikkhus ran up to him and made 
a noise when they saw the snake’s body. The serpent awoke from that noise and 
sat down on his seat. The Bhikkhus said to him ‘ Who are you.* ‘lama serpent, 
Reverend Sirs.’ ‘ And why have you done such a thing ’ ? Then the serpent told the 
whole matter to the Bhikkhus. The Bhikkhus told it to the Blessed One. 
In consequence of that, and on this occasion, the Blessed One, having ordered 
the fraternity of Bhikkhus to assemble, said to that serpent: ‘ You serpents are not 
capable of spiritual growth in this doctrine and discipline. However, serpent, go 
and observe fasts on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth day of each half-month in 
the name of the Trinity. Thus will you be released from being a serpent and 
quickly obtain human nature.’ Then the Blessed One said to the Bhikkhus. ‘ There 
are two occasions on which a serpent who has resumed human shape manifests his 
true nature : When he has sexual intercourse with a female of his species ; and when 
he thinks himself safe from discovery and falls sleep.’ 
1 At that time a certain hermaphrodite had received Pravrajyd with the Bhik¬ 
khus. The hermaphrodite being possessed of the nature of both the sexes 
committed sexual intercourse with the Bhikkhus and the Bhikkhuni s. 
They told this thing to the Blessed One. ‘ Let not a hermaphrodite, O Bhikkhus, 
receive the ordination.’ 
* At that time a slave ran away, and was ordained with the Bhikkhus. When 
his masters saw him, they said : ‘There is our slave ; come let us lead him away, 
back to our house.’ They told this thing to the Blessed one. ‘ Let no slave, 0 
Bhikkhus, receive the Pravrajyd ordination.’ 
3 At that time a certain person who was in debt, ran away, and was ordained 
with the Bhikkhus. When his creditors saw him, they said, ‘ There is our debtor ; 
come let us lead him to prison ? ’ But some people replied : ‘ Do not say so, Sirs. 
A decree has been issued by the Magadha King. No one is to do harm to those who 
are ordained as the monks of (^iikya.’ ‘ How can they ordain a debtor ? ’ They told 
this to the Blessed One. ‘ Let no debtor, 0 Bhikkhus, receive the Pravrajyd 
ordination.’ 
