Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

:
PUNISHMENT. 95
whether they be Shamans or men of any other
religion (Tao-sse)—to help the impoverished, the
orphan, and the aged—and by so doing, and per-
suading others so to do, the consequent merit is
so great that all his former vows are hereby accom-
plished, and he attains the great goal of air life, as
the five rivers when they are lost in the sea."
The King then asked as to the former condition of this
old mendicant, and why he was horn to so sad a lot, to
whom Buddha replied
" In days gone by there was a king called Evil-
conduct (P^pakamma V), who governed his subjects
with tyranny and oppression. He used to send out,
his officers to afflict the people, and with cruel
lashes to extort from them all they could get.
There was a certain man of eminence about to be
whipped, when he begged for mercy as he was a
disciple of Buddha. On this the officer laid the
whip lightly on him ; but, nevertheless, because of
his evil deeds he was afterwards born in hell, and
repeatedly as a beast, and at last as a man, but
always miserably diseased. Now at that time the
King was Devadatta, the executioner was this dis-
eased monk, and the eminent man was myself;
but because I was the one who begged for mercy,
my lot is now to help this wretched man, as he
had mercy on me."
And then he repeated the following lines :
" He ^ who inflicts pain on the gentle and the
good, or falsely accuses the innocent, this man wiU
' Compare ver. 137 sa. of the P41i.
—