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INTRODUCTION.
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ghosa? I therefore feel no hesitation in here reprinting that story, as we find it in the Mahavamsa, not free from legendary ingredients, it is true, yet resting, I believe, on a sound foundation of historical fact.
A Brâhman youth, born in the neighbourhood of the terrace of the great Bo-tree (in Magadha), accomplished in the “vigga” (knowledge) and “sippa" (art), who had achieved the knowledge of the three Vedas, and possessed great aptitude in attaining acquirements; indefatigable as a schismatic disputant, and himself a schismatic wanderer over Gambudîpa, established himself, in the character of a disputant, in a certain vihara ?, and was in the habit of rehearsing, by night and by day with clasped hands, a discourse which he had learned, perfect in all its component parts, and sustained throughout in the same lofty strain. A certain Mahâthera, Revata, becoming acquainted with him there, and (saying to himself), “ This individual is a person of profound knowledge, it will be worthy (of me) to convert him ;” enquired, “Who is this who is braying like an ass?” The Brâhman replied to him, “Thou canst define, then, the meaning conveyed in the bray of asses." On the Thera rejoining, “I can define it ;" he (the Brâhman) exhibited the extent of the knowledge he possessed. The Thera criticised each of his propositions, and pointed out in what respect they were fallacious. He who had been thus refuted, said, “Well, then, descend to thy own creed ;” and he propounded to him a passage from the Abhidhamma (of the Pitakattaya). He (the Brâhman) could not divine the signification of that passage, and enquired, “Whose manta is this?"_“It is Buddha's manta." On his exclaiming, “Impart it to me;" the Thera replied, “Enter the sacerdotal order." He who was desirous of acquiring the knowledge of the Pitakattaya, subsequently coming to this conviction, “This is the sole road” (to salvation), became a convert to that faith. As he was as profound in his eloquence (ghosa) as Buddha himself, they conferred on him the appellation of Buddhaghosa (the
1 See Bigandet, Life of Gaudama, pp. 351, 381.
> On this vihara, its foundation and character, see Oldenberg, Vinaya, vol. i. p. liji; Hiouen-thsang, III, p. 487 seq.
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