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22
THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
IV, 5, 21.
it that Gotipâla, the young Brahman, having been born and brought up in a family of unbelievers, men void of faith, thus reviled and abused the Tathagata after the manner of his kind. And just, О king, as a flaming and burning mighty fire, if, even when at the height of its glory, it should come into contact with water, would cool down, with its splendour and glory spoilt, and turn to cinders, black as rotten blighted 1 fruits-just so, O king, Gotipala, full as he was of merit and faith, mighty as was the glory of his knowledge, yet when reborn into a family of unbelievers, of men void of faith, he became, as it were, blind, and reviled and abused the Tathagata. But when he had gone to him, and had come to know the virtues of the Buddhas which he had, then did he become as his hired servant; and having renounced the world and entered the Order under the system of the Conqueror, he gained the fivefold power of insight, and the eightfold power of ecstatic meditation, and became assured of rebirth into the Brahma heaven.'
Very good, Nagasena! That is so, and I accept it as you say.'
[Here ends the dilemma about Gotipâla.]
Niggundi, which Hînan-kumburê merely repeats. See Gataka III, 348; IV, 456; Dhammapada Commentary, p. 209; Anguttara IV, 199; and Dr. Morris's restoration of Dîpavamsa XII, 32, in the Introduction to vol. ü of his Anguttara.
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