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head； and there he remained seven days in thought。〃 So also the Nidana
Katha； in 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 p。 109。
＇9＇ This was Brahma himself； though 〃king〃 is omitted。 What he
requested of the Buddha was that he would begin the preaching of his Law。
Nidana Katha； p。 111。
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＇10＇ See chap。 xii； note 10。
＇11＇ The other accounts mention only two； but in M。 B。； p。 182； and
the Nidana Katha； p。 110； these two have 500 well…laden waggons with
them。
＇12＇ These must not be confounded with Mahakasyapa of chap。 xvi；
note 17。 They were three brothers； Uruvilva； Gaya； and Nadi…Kasyapa； up
to this time holders of 〃erroneous〃 views； having 500； 300； and 200
disciples respectively。 They became distinguished followers of Sakyamuni；
and areeach of themto become Buddha by…and…by。 See the Nidana
Katha； pp。 114； 115。
＇13＇ This seems to be the meaning； but I do not wonder that some
understand the sentence of the benevolence of the monkish population to
the travellers。
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CHAPTER XXXII
LEGEND OF KING ASOKA IN A FORMER BIRTH； AND HIS
NARAKA。
When king Asoka； in a former birth；＇1＇ was a little boy and played on
the road； he met Kasyapa Buddha walking。 （The stranger） begged food；
and the boy pleasantly took a handful of earth and gave it to him。 The
Buddha took the earth； and returned it to the ground on which he was
walking； but because of this （the boy） received the recompense of
becoming a king of the iron wheel；＇2＇ to rule over Jambudvipa。 （Once）
when he was making a judicial tour of inspection through Jambudvipa； he
saw； between the iron circuit of the two hills； a naraka＇3＇ for the
punishment of wicked men。 Having thereupon asked his ministers what
sort of a thing it was； they replied； 〃It belongs to Yama；＇4＇ king of demons；
for punishing wicked people。〃 The king thought within himself： 〃（Even）
the king of demons is able to make a naraka in which to deal with wicked
men； why should not I； who am the lord of men； make a naraka in which
to deal with wicked men？〃 He forthwith asked his ministers who could
make for him a naraka and preside over the punishment of wicked people
in it。 They replied that it was only a man of extreme wickedness who
could make it； and the king thereupon sent officers to seek everywhere for
（such） a bad man； and they saw by the side of a pond a man tall and strong；
with a black countenance； yellow hair； and green eyes； hooking up the fish
with his feet； while he called to him birds and beasts； and； when they came；
then shot and killed them； so that not one escaped。 Having got this man；
they took him to the king； who secretly charged him； 〃You must make a
square enclosure with high walls。 Plant in it all kinds of flowers and fruits；
make good ponds in it for bathing； make it grand and imposing in every
way； so that men shall look to it with thirsting desire； make its gates strong
and sure； and when any one enters； instantly seize him and punish him as a
sinner； not allowing him to get out。 Even if I should enter； punish me as a
sinner in the same way； and do not let me go。 I now appoint you master of
that naraka。〃
Soon after this a bhikshu； pursuing his regular course of begging his
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food； entered the gate （of the place）。 When the lictors of the naraka saw
him； they were about to subject him to their tortures； but he； frightened；
begged them to allow him a moment in which to eat his midday meal。
Immediately after； there came in another man； whom they thrust into a
mortar and pounded till a red froth overflowed。 As the bhikshu looked on；
there came to him the thought of the impermanence； the painful suffering
and insanity of this body； and how it is but as a bubble and as foam； and
instantly he attained to Arhatship。 Immediately after； the lictors seized him；
and threw him into a caldron of boiling water。 There was a look of joyful
satisfaction； however； in the bhikshu's countenance。 The fire was
extinguished； and the water became cold。 In the middle （of the caldron）
there rose up a lotus flower； with the bhikshu seated on it。 The lictors at
once went and reported to the king that there was a marvellous occurrence
in the naraka； and wished him to go and see it； but the king said； 〃I
formerly made such an agreement that now I dare not go （to the place）。〃
The lictors said； 〃This is not a small matter。 Your majesty ought to go
quickly。 Let your former agreement be altered。〃 The king thereupon
followed them； and entered （the naraka）； when the bhikshu preached the
Law to him； and he believed； and was made free。＇5＇ Forthwith he
demolished the naraka； and repented of all the evil which he had formerly
done。 From this time he believed in and honoured the Three Precious Ones；
and constantly went to a patra tree； repenting under it； with self…reproach；
of his errors； and accepting the eight rules of abstinence。＇6＇
The queen asked where the king was constantly going to； and the
ministers replied that he was constantly to be seen under （such and such） a
patra tree。 She watched for a time when the king was not there； and then
sent men to cut the tree down。 When the king came； and saw what had
been done； he swooned away with sorrow； and fell to the ground。 His
ministers sprinkled water on his face； and after a considerable time he
revived。 He then built all round （the stump） with bricks； and poured a
hundred pitchers of cows' milk on the roots； and as he lay with his four
limbs spread out on the ground； he took this oath； 〃If the tree do not live； I
will never rise from this。〃 When he had uttered this oath； the tree
immediately began to grow from the roots； and it has continued to grow
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