1892.] 
W. Hoey —Set Mahet. 
11 
Buddha, who was at Sravasti, went out of the city and sat down under 
a leafless tree by the roadside. When Yirudhaka saw Buddha here, 
he asked him why he was sitting under a tree which gave no shade. 
Buddha replied that liis kinsmen made it shady. Virudhaka felt 
rebuked and turned back, but he was induced by Ambliarisha to march 
again, and on this occasion he advanced to Kapilavastu and invested the 
city. The Sakyas sallied out and repulsed their besiegers. They then 
returned into the city and shut their gates. The Kosala army rallied and 
encamped round the walls. Virudhaka by false professions induced the 
Sakyas to open their gates. When he had entered, he treacheronsly 
ordered the slaughter of the Sakyas. He killed, it is said, 77,000, and 
carried off 500 youths and 500 maidens. He killed the youths and tried 
to force the maidens into his harem, but they would not go, and so they 
too were killed. Buddha now foretold that within seven days, the 
Kosala house would be destroyed and that Virudhaka and Ambliarisha 
would be burned up. 
Virudhaka returned to Sravasti, and noticed Jeta walking on the 
palace terrace. He sent for Jeta and told him he had been killing his 
enemies. The prince asked who these enemies were and Virudhaka 
replied: ‘The Sakyas.’ ‘ Then who are your friends ’? asked Jeta. At 
this retort this king was so incensed that he ordered the death of Jeta. 
When Buddha’s prophecy of destruction to the Kosala house was 
told to Virudhaka, he built a pleasure house in the water and went there 
with his harem and Ambliarisha for seven days. On the seventh day, 
as they were preparing to return, the sky, which had been clouded, 
suddenly cleared up. The sun shone out and his rays fell on a burning- 
glass which was laid on a cushion. The cushion caught fire and the 
building was burned down. The women escaped, but Virudhaka and 
Ambliarisha perished in the conflagration. Thus closed, as far as we 
know, the independent dynasty of Sravasti, which had been favourable 
to Buddhism, and Buddha does not appear to have again visited the 
city. He died soon after. 
It will perhaps be best to discuss here the legend narrated by Mr. 
Benett in his article on ‘ Saliet-Mahet ’ in the Gazetteer of Oudh, and 
quoted also by General Cunningham, regarding a convulsion which is 
said to have buried one of the later kings of Suhil Deo’s line in ruin. 
I have heard several versions of the tale and it comes in full to this. 
The king, whoever he was, went out hunting one day and returned 
home very late. The sun was about to set and, according to the cus¬ 
toms of his house, he could not eat after sunset. He went to perform 
his evening devotions, saying he would not eat. His younger brother’s 
wife said it was still day and went up to the housetop and addressed 
