________________
· 391
The Buddha - "Gịhapati! The Tathāgata stays only in vacant homes".
The Grhapati - "Bhante ! I understand what you mean. Sugata ! I understand what you mean".
Grhapati Anāthapindika had many friends at Rajagrha. After he had finished his business in the city, he started for Sravasti. In all the way-side villages he stopped and said as follows to the villagers,
"Aryas ! Build up shelters at every yojana. Erect vihāras. The Buddha has been born in the world. I have invited him to come to Srāvasti. He will come by this route".
Those people, who could so afford, built up shelters and vihāras at their own cost. For those who did not have the necessary wherewithal, the finance was provided by Anathapindika(15). At the inspiration and leadership provided by him, all the villages between Rajagrha and Srāvasti was duly provided with shelters and vihāras.
Having reached Srāvasti, Anāthapiņdika looked for a place all over which would be suitable for the construction of a shelter for the monks. The place must be neither too near nor too far from the city. It should be easily accessible to the people who would come to see the Buddha. It should not be too much crowded during the day, nor too much noisy at night, fairly secluded, so that it might be a good place for purposes of meditation. For this purpose, he selected a garden belonging to Prince Jeta; for, this appeared to him most suitable in all respects. So he came to the prince and said,
"Noble sir ! Please give me your garden wherein I intend to construct a shelter for the monks".
Prince Jeta - "Gyhapati ! I can't sell it even for a crore".
Anāthapiņņika - "Noble sir ! I have already bought
ît".
Prince Jeta - "No, Grhapati, you have not",
