Page Text
________________
331
came and bowed before the monks. An offer made to a worthy person always yields a great result. As the girl bowed before the monks, she had her hairs restored. The monks ate the food. As the girl looked on, they flew through the sky and reached Kancana-vana, the park in their own city Ujjaini. The report of their arrival was conveyed to King Candapradyota by the gardener:
"Your Majesty ! The noble priest Katyāyana has become a monk along with his companions. He is in the park waiting for Your Majesty's orders".
The king was delighted to hear the news. He himself came to the park. After the monks had taken their food, the king saw them. He bowed before them with his five limbs and said,
"Bhante! Where is Bhagavān Buddha"?
Kātyāyana - "Maharāj ! The Great Teacher has not himself come. He has sent me instead".
The king - "Where did you get your food today"?
The monk narrated the most difficult feat performed by the poor girl. The king was very much impressed by this. He arranged for the monks' lodging, invited them to receive food at the palace and came back. He sent his men to bring the poor girl. When she came, the king married her and made her the first queen. She became the most beloved of the king. The king paid full attention to the monks.
The new queen gave birth to a son who was named Gopālakumāra, after his maternal grand-father and the mother was nicknamed Gopāla -mātā. At her request, the king erected a vihāra in the Kancana-vana for the use of the monks. The monks provided inspiration to the entire populace of Ujjaini and converted them to the new faith and returned to the Buddha (34). 7. Nanda, Rahula and others - King Suddhodana learnt that having gone through severe penances, his son had attained the status of the Buddha and had rolled the Whee! of Religion 'dhar ma-cakra). He learnt further that at
| SR No. | 022804 |
| Book Title | Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Nagaraj Muni |
| Publisher | Today and Tomorrows Printers and Publishers |
| Publication Year | 1986 |
| Total Pages | 804 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 19 MB |