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All the guards took positions as directed, ready to execute the order. Equipped with a sword and a shield, the first man came to the Buddha's camp. He was afraid, anxious and alarmed, looking completely blank. As he was of a very mild tone, he said to him,
"Come, ābusa I welcome thee. Have no fear".
The man threw aside his sword and shield, fell down at the Buddha's feet and said,
"Bhanté ! Like a child, a fool, an ignoramous, I have committed the meanest crime against thee. With a wicked design in my mind, I came to kill thee. Please forgive me my sin.
"Bhante! Please forgive me for what is past now; and for the future, please fix me in Sa řvara (restraint)".
In consoling him, the Buddha said,
"Although you have committed a great sin, still, penitent as you are, and you are keen to rectify for the future according to the Law (dharma), I accept your words and grant you reprive".
Then the Buddha spoke to him words of enlightenment and the man had his pure, spiritual eye opened at once, Said he to the Great Leader.
"Bhante! From this day, please accept me who is come to this succour with folded hands as a devoted follower of thee".
By dint of his divine powers, the Buddha saw the whole trap laid by Devadatta and so he changed the route of the man's going back. In consequence, he did not go by the route assigned to him by Deva datta, but he went by a different route. The two guards were anxiously waiting for this man to return; but after waiting for a long time when they found that nobody did come back, they themselves proceeded in the same direction to check, They came across the Buddha seated beneath a tree. They saluted
