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Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

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( 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.

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