Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

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

Page 68

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Mahāvīra and Buddha monks even to Sāriputta and Moggallana. How then could I to you, a wretched one to be vomited like spittle ?
Then Devadatta, thinking: 'The Lord in an assembly which included a king disparaged me by (using) the term, ‘one to be vomited like spittle,' while he extolled Sāriputta and Moggallana, angry, displeased, having greeted the Lord, departed keeping his right side towards him.
"And this was the first time that Devadatta felt malice towards the Lord.”
“Then Devadatta approached Prince Ajātšatru; having approached, he spoke thus to prince, Ajātsatru "Formerly prince, people were long-lived, now-a-days they are short-lived, and it is possible that you, while still a prince, might pass away. Well now, do you, prince, having slain your father, become king. I having slain the Lord, will become the Awakened One. And Prince Ajātšatru, thinking: Now, master Devadatta is of great psychic power, of great majesty; master Devadatta must know (what is right), having fastened a dagger against his thigh, at an early hour (although) afraid, anxious, fearful, alarmed, entered the (King's) private quarters forcibly. But the chief ministers in attendance in the private quarters saw him. Seeing hi n, they laid hold of him. These examining him, and having seen the dagger bound against his thigh, spoke thus to Prince Ajātšatru : What is it that you, prince, want to do?
“I want to slay my father.” “By whom are you being incited ?” "By master Devadatta”.
Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha spoke thus to Prince Ajātšatru.
“Why do you, prince, want to slay me?”