Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada
Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada
Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
( 139 )<br />
SECTION XXX.<br />
HELL (NIEATAVAGGO).<br />
I. In olden time <strong>the</strong>re w<strong>as</strong> in <strong>the</strong> country of SrS,va3ti a cer-<br />
tain Brahman teacher called Purina K^yapa (Pou-lan-<br />
ka-ye), who had five hundred followers, who went ahout<br />
<strong>the</strong> country with <strong>the</strong>ir m<strong>as</strong>ter, and were greatly respected<br />
by <strong>the</strong> King and people. Now it came to p<strong>as</strong>s that<br />
after Buddha had attained supreme wisdom, and when<br />
with his disciples he had come to Sr§,v<strong>as</strong>ti, that, on<br />
account of his personal dignity, and <strong>the</strong> character of his<br />
teaching, <strong>the</strong> King and people paid him great respect.<br />
On this KS^yapa w<strong>as</strong> full of jealousy, and he determined<br />
to destroy (overthrow) <strong>the</strong> World-honoured in argument,<br />
and cause his death. Accordingly he went, accompanied<br />
by his followers, to meet <strong>the</strong> King, and having found him,<br />
he spake thus : " In former days, MahS,rS,ja, you and <strong>the</strong><br />
people used to attend to me <strong>as</strong> a teacher, and supply my<br />
wants ; but since this Sramana G6tama h<strong>as</strong> arrived here,<br />
who falsely says he h<strong>as</strong> become enlightened (Buddha), you<br />
have left me, to attend on him. I desire, <strong>the</strong>refore, that<br />
you would allow a discussion between us, and whoever is<br />
defeated in argument let him be put to dfeath." The<br />
King being ple<strong>as</strong>ed with <strong>the</strong> proposition, submitted it to<br />
<strong>the</strong> World-honoured One, who consented to meet KSiyapa,<br />
<strong>as</strong> he wished, at <strong>the</strong> expiration of seven days. Accord-<br />
ingly <strong>the</strong> King prepared a place standing e<strong>as</strong>tward of <strong>the</strong><br />
city, smooth and wide, on which he erected two lofty<br />
thrones, and adorned <strong>the</strong>m with all sorts of flags and<br />
decorations. On <strong>the</strong>se <strong>the</strong> two disputants were to sit.