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to his house to offer them food. All the nigaạthas were assembled there. When Visakha was called upon to serve food, she had a severe reaction at the sight of the nudes. She declined at once to do anything with them and requested her father-in-law to turn them out of the house. The merchant begged to be forgiven and dismissed the monks with due respect. On another day, some nigantha monks came at the merchant's door to beg food, when Visakhā dismissed them by saying that the merchant was eating cold (remnant from yesterday) food. So the monks went away. The merchant heard these words and was aflame with anger. When he ordered his men to throw her out, she protested that that was not easy. She said that she could be r only after her guilt was established in the presence of elders from both sides who were present at her marriage. The elders assembled and Visakha's explanation on the allegations of the merchant was accepted by them. Th merchant begged to be forgiven. Visakha was ready to do so and remain at the house on condition that Buddha and his bhiksus were invited. The merchant agreed on condition that the invitees would be received by Visakha. This was done. Buddha arrived, but the merchant did not appear. Even at the dinner, he excused to be absent. At last, it was time to listen the words of Buddha. The merchant could no longer keep aside. As he started, the nigantha monks at the door urged him to listen from a .. distance and not to enter into the room where Buddha sat. But what a marvel, as Buddha began to speaks, the sins began to drop out from the merchants body and soon he was purified.
Source: Dhammapada Atthakatha,
4-4.
Comment
This appears to be an exaggerated concoction of the Atthakathā which does not figure anywhere in the Jaina Agamas or in the original Tripitakas.
21. Garahadinna and Sirigutta
Two friends, Sirigutta and Garahadinna, lived at Srávasti. Sirigutta was a follower of Buddha while Garahadinna was a follower of the Niganthas. They would often
