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260
KULLAVAGGA.
VII, 4, 5.
matical Bhikkhus seem good to thee. But rather cause such Bhikkhus to confess that they have.committed a thullakkaya offence. And how, Sâriputta, did Devadatta treat you ?'
When Devadatta, Lord, had instructed and aroused and incited and gladdened the Bhikkhus far into the night with religious discourse, he then made request to me, saying, “ The assembly, friend Sâriputta, is still alert and sleepless. Will you, friend Sariputta, think of some religious discourse to address to the Bhikkhus? My back is tired, and I would stretch myself a little." This, Lord, was the way in which Devadatta behaved to me.'
5. Then the Blessed One addressed the Bhikkhus, and said: 'Once upon a time, O Bhikkhus, there was a great pond in a forest region. Some elephants dwelt beside it; and they, plunging into the pond, plucked with their trunks the edible stalks of the lotus plants, washed them till they were quite clean', masticated thema without any dirt, and so eat them up. And that produced in them both beauty and strength, and by reason thereof they neither went down into death, nor into any sorrow like unto death. Now among those great elephants, O Bhikkhus, there were young elephant calves, who also, in imitation of those others, plunged into that pond, and plucked with their trunks the edible stalks of the lotus plants; but they did not wash them till they were clean, but masticated them, dirt and all, and so eat them up. And that produced in them
1 The last three lines have occurred word for word in Mahavagga VI, 20, 2.
• Samkhâditvå. Compare the use of this word at Gataka I, 507.
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