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not heard that the slaughter has taken place for their sake, and they have no hunch that the slaughter has been effected for them. I see no sin in these".
When the Buddha rejected the proposals made by Devadatta in this manner, the latter became very happy and returned to Rajagṛha. In his effort to expose the Buddha to the people, he said,
"The Lord supports and prescribes little desire, contentment, penance, simple living, prāsādika, renunciation and endeavour for the monks. So I placed before him for his consideration for making five rules for the members of the monastic order, but he did not approve of them. I approved these five rules"
When the disrespectful and foolish people heard these words, they said,
"Born in the Sakya line, the Buddha is a false and property-earning monk. He builds up property and inspires people to do the same".
The devoted and wise people, on the contrary, became sorry at this mean attitude of Devadatta. All of them denounced him in the same manner saying,
"Devadatta is trying for a cleavage in the Buddhist order".
The monks heard the people discussing these. They came to the Buddha and reported. The Buddha's reactions were as follows:
"We should be very careful so that Devadatta may not create a cleavage in the order. This is a hineous crime. He who strives to divide a monastic order which is united acquires a life in hell as long as one kalpa. He rots in hell for one kalpa. He who unites a divided order acquires great merit. He enjoys life in heaven for one kalpa. So tell Devadatta that it is not good on his part to try to create a split in the monastic order".
