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MAHÂVAGGA.
1, 53, 2.
covered by darkness to the Sakyaputtiya Samanas; they cannot discern the (four) regions.' Some Bhikkhus heard, &c.
2. Then the Blessed One said to the venerable Ânanda: 'Go, Ânanda, take a key and tell the Bhikkhus in every cell: "Friends, the Blessed One wishes to go forth to Dakkhinâgiri. Let any one of the venerable brethren who thinks fit, come to
him.”)
The venerable Ananda accepted this order of the Blessed One (by saying), 'Yes, Lord,' took a key, and said to the Bhikkhus in every cell: 'Friends, the Blessed One,' &c.
3. The Bhikkhus replied: 'Friend Ânanda, the Blessed One has prescribed that Bhikkhus are to live (the first) ten years in dependence (on their âkariyas and upagghầyas), and that he who has completed his tenth year, may give a nissaya himself. Now if we go there, we shall be obliged to take a nissaya there; then we shall stay there for a short time, then we must go back again and take a new nissaya. If our âkariyas and upagghầyas go, we will go also; if our âkariyas and upagghầyas do not go, we will not go either. Otherwise our light-mindedness, friend Ânanda, will become manifest.
4. Thus the Blessed One went forth to Dakkhinâgiri followed only by a few Bhikkhus. And the Blessed One, after having dwelt at Dakkhinagiri as long as he thought fit, went back to Râgagaha again.
Then the Blessed One said to the venerable Ananda : 'How is it, Ânanda, that the perfect
1 See chap. 32. 1.
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