W. Hoey —Set Mahet. 
[Extra-No. 
10 
of calumny that Buddha had to contend. He had also the machina¬ 
tions of a false follower to counteract. Devadatta, his own cousin, 
was among his professed followers and desired to secure the succession 
to the headship of the Sangha for himself, but Buddha had determined 
on another representative. Devadatta therefore tried to create a schism 
in the fraternity ; he obtained a temporary mastery of Ajatasatru, the 
son of Bimbisara, king of Magadha, and sought to secure eminence 
through his aid. He failed. Then he aspired to be king of the Sakyas, 
who entertained the notion of placing Yasodhara (Buddha’s wife) on 
the throne. He went to her one day on the terrace of the palace at 
Kapilavastu, and seizing her hand, entreated her to become his wife. 
She resented his proposal and flung him to the ground. He then de¬ 
termined to destroy Buddha, who was at Sravasti. He placed poison 
under his finger nails, approached Buddha, feigning to pay him homage, 
fell at his feet and tried to scratch his legs. The attempt failed. 
Devadatta then entreated his cousin to forgive him. The Great Teacher 
promised to do so, if he once more unreservedly professed his faith in 
him. This he did, reciting the usual formula ‘ 1 take my refuge, etc.,’ 
but there was a lie on his lip and he fell living into hell. The death 
of Devadatta occurred at Sravasti a few years before Buddha died. 
Sariputta, the great apostle and the architect of the Jetavana 
monastery, died soon after Devadatta’s decease. He died at Nalanda, 
where he was cremated, and the disciples brought his ashes, alms-bowl, 
and cloak to Rajagriha, and laid them before Buddha, who took them 
on to Sravasti. Sudatta then procured the ashes from the Master aud 
built a stupa over them. It was not long after this that Virudhaka 
deposed his father and usurped the throne of Kosala. He had long 
cherished schemes for this end, but had been deterred by the prime 
minister. One day, however, when that official was driving out in a 
chariot with Prasenajit, the latter suddenly conceived a desire to visit 
Buddha, who was staying in a Sakya town called Metsurudi. Thither 
they drove. The king handed his insignia to the minister and went 
in to Buddha. The minister, who had been left outside, drove off in the 
chariot to Sravasti and crowned Virudhaka. Mallika and Varshika 
now left Sravasti and went in search of their royal husband, whom they 
met on his return from Buddha, aud they told him what had occurred. 
Prasenajit sent Mallika back to Sravasti to her son, bidding her reign 
with him, while he and Varshika went to Rajagriha. Plere the deposed 
king died, and Ajatasatru paid royal honours to his remains. 
Virudhaka had not been long on the throne when his companion 
Ambharisha reminded him of the vow he had made regarding the 
Sakyas of Kapilavastu. The king prepared his army for a raid, but 
