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future before him. I should please him. This will give me much gain and prominence'.
Devadatta picked up his cushion and begging bowl and took the road to Rajagrha, Having arrived there, he changed himself into a boy, wore an ornamental chain (as was used by young children) round his waist and appeared straight on the laps of Ajātas'atru. At this unusual appearance, Ajātasatru became somewhat afraid, alarmed and terrified. Said the boy to the King,
"Prince ! Are you afraid of me"?
Ajātas'atru - "Yes, I am. Who are you"?
Devadatta - "I am Devadatta".
Ajātasatru - "Bhante! If you are Devadatta, as you say, please appear in your proper form".
At this, Devadattạ gave up his disguise and appeared before Ajātas'atru in his proper form with his begging bowl and cloth in his hand. Ajatasatru was very much impressed by this wonderful feat of the monk. Since this event, Ajātasatru became a regular visitor to Devadatta every morning and evening. He was followed by 500 chariots and he supplied 500 dishes of food everyday for the use of Devadatta and his monks.
Having thus gained royal favour, prestige and prominence, Devadatta thought,
'Now I should be the leader of the bhiksus
No sooner did he think like that than his spiritual power was gone.
Starting from Kausambi, Bhagavan Buddha came to Rājagyha. He halted at Venu-vana which belonged to Kalan daka Nivapa. Many monks came to the Buddha. They paid him their homage and obeisance and sat on one side, They narrated the account of the honour conferred on Devadatta by Prince Ajatas atru, When the Buddha heard this, he observed,
