Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

Author(s): Nagrajmuni, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Book Agency

Page 48

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Mahāvīra and Buddha
it is unanimously believed that Sāriputta, had died long before Buddha's Nirvāṇa.
The fact appears to be that Vassakāra had called on Buddha, when, after Maha-Silā-Kanțaka and the Ratha-Müsala wars, Koņika had besieged the city of Vaiśālī, and he and his minister had been further devising the various plans to devastate the walls of Vaiśālī. This belief is also substantiated by the fact that according to the Jain sources, Konika was advised to employ the insidious strategies to enable him to enter into the city of Vajśālī and also according to the Buddhist Scriptures, Vassakāra, the chief minister of Ajātaśatru, after having talked with Buddha and having
lineage of the faith just, Lord ! as a king might have a border city, strong in its foundations, strong in its ramparts and toranas, and with one gate alone; and the king might have a watchman there, clever, expert, and wise, to stop all strangers and admit only friends. And he, on going over the approaches all round the city, might not so observe all the joints and crevices in the ramparts of that city as to know where even a cat could get out. That might well be. Yet all living things of larger size that entered or left the city, would have to do so by that gate. Thus only is it, Lord, that I know the lineage of the faith. I know that the Arhat Buddhas of the past putting away all lust, ill will, sloth, pride, and doubt; knowing all those mental faults which make men weak; training their minds in the four kind of mental activity, throughly exercising themselves in the sevenfold higher wisdom, received the full fruition of Enlightenmtent. And I know that the Arahat Buddhas of the times to come will do the same). And I know that the Blessed one the Arahat Buddha of today, has (done so) now."
Tr. by T. W. Rhy Davids, Buddhist Sutta the Sacred Books of the East Series, Vol. X, pp. 12-14.
The renowned Buddhist Scholar Rahul Sankrityayana commenting on this chapter of Maha-Parinivvānna-Sutta writes that the name of Sāriputta has been referred to here on account of the error committed by the Bhanakas (the persons who used to learn the Scriptures by heart) Buddha Caryā, p. 525). If we suppose so, can it not be probable that the whole event of Vassakāra is also compiled in the Mahā-Parinivvāna-Sutta only erroneously?