Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

( 62 )
SECTION" IX.
TWIN VBESES.1
I. FoEMEELY when Buddha was residing at Sr^vasti, the
king of the country, whose name was Prasenajit, came to
the place where Buddha was, and descending from his
chariot, approached the Teacher with the deepest reverence,
and invited him on the morrow to enter the city and par-
take of his hospitality, with a view to exhibit to the people
the excellency of his person and doctrine, thsit they might
believe on him.2
Buddha having consented, on the morrow entered the
city with all his disciples, and having passed through the
four cross streets of the town, he came to the place appointed
and sat down. After finishing the meal, he began, on the
request of the king, to preach in the midst of the four
highways,^ whilst his auditors were very many. At this
time there were two merchants listening to him. One of
them reflected, " What excellent wisdom on the part of the
king to have such doctrines as these publicly preached
how wide their application, how searching there character !
The other reflected thus, " What folly is this on the part
of the king, bringing this man here to preach ! like the
calf that follows the cow, here and there, fastened to a
vehicle she draws, bleating as it goes—so is this Buddha
1 Here we come into agreement " A similar story is told in the
with the division of chapters in the Chu'h Yau, Cod. iii. hook 19, fol. 6.
PMi. This chapter is called " Yama^ » This preaching and begging in the
kavaggo," t.e., "double verses." It "four highways" is constantly reagrees
in title with K. xviii. Cod. iii. ferred to in Buddhist works.
" !