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IV, 18.
CONVERSION OF THE SUPPORTER ETC.
217
The nobleman, his heart rejoicing, forthwith began to spread his gold. Then Geta said: 'I will not give, why then spread you your gold ?' 1524
The nobleman replied, 'Not give; why then said you, “Fill it with yellow gold ?” And thus they differed and contended both, till they resorted to the magistrate. 1525
Meanwhile the people whispered much about his unwonted? (charity), and Geta too, knowing the man's sincerity, asked more about the matter : what his reasons were. On his reply, 'I wish to found a Vihara, 1526
‘And offer it to the Tathagata and all his Bhikshu followers,' the prince, hearing the name of Buddha, received at once illumination, 1527
And only took one half the gold, desiring to share in the foundation: Yours is the land (he said), but mine the trees; these will I give to Buddha as my share in the offering.' 1528
Then the noble took the land, Geta the trees, and settled both in trust on Sâriputra. Then they began to build the hall, labouring night and day to finish it; 1529
Lofty it rose and choicely decorated, as one of the four kings' palaces, in just proportions, following the
lives of Buddha. There is a representation of the proceeding in plate Ivii (Bharhut Stapa). I may observe here that the figure immediately in front (by the side of Geta, the prince, who is apparently giving away the trees, whilst Sudatta below him is giving the land), whistling with thumb and forefinger, and waving the robe, is typical of a number of others in these sculptures similarly engaged (see e.g. plate xiii (outer face]).
1 Or, the unwonted circumstance; or, the unusual' character of Sudatta.
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| SR No. | 007676 |
| Book Title | Text of Confucianism Part 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | James Legge |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1882 |
| Total Pages | 2405 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 43 MB |