Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

( 69 )
SECTION- X.
ON CARELESSNESS (tHOUGHTLESSNESS).I
I. In days of old there were five hundred inerchants, who,
after a voyage on the deep, were returning to their homes,
when in traversing certain deep and dangerous passes the
evil spirits so bewildered them that, being unable to find
their way out, they at last were exhausted from want of
food and lay down and died, leaving their treasures
scattered about the mountains. At this time a certain
Shaman, who was practising austerities iu that neigh-
bourhood, seeing the valuables lying about, thought thus
with biTTi sfilf—
" I have been exercising myself in , self-
denial for these seven years past, and have failed to reach
my aim. 1 will take these valuables and go home 'again."
Then Buddha, recognising the condition of this Shaman,
and knowing that he would arrive at deliverance, caused
the appearance of a Bhikshiini, with a head-dress adorned
with jewels. On seeing her, the Shaman was astonished,
and said, "How is it that you, a Bhikshunl, are thus
adorned?" To which sfie replied, "But how is it that
you, a Shaman, are also in possession of wealth and jewels,
which are forbidden to one of your calling ? "—and then
she added these lines, and said
" A Bhikstiu diligently adheres to the rules (of
his calling). A man who is careless and negligent
in these, accumulates much sorrow. He who care-
1 As I have obaerred in the Pre- iii. is "Eefleotion," agreeing with the
face, the title of this chapter in Cod. P&li.
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