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CHAPTER FIVE One should not acquire possessions, for a man worried about his possessions falls down like an over-loaded ox. If people eager to abandon fully these things, destruction of life, et cetera, are not able to abandon them fully, in that case they should abandon gross offenses.”
The people, attentive, listening to this sermon of the Lord's, stood as if painted in a picture, streaming with joy. Conversion of the Gautamas and other Brāhmans (49–160)
Now, in the country Magadha in the village Gobaragrāma lived a Brāhman, Vasubhūti, belonging to the Gautamagotra. By his wife Pșthivi he had three sons: Indrabhūti, Agnibhūti, and Vāyubhūti. They also were Gautamas by gotra. In Kollāka lived Dhanurmitra and the Brāhman, Dhammilla. They had sons, Vyakta and Sudharman, borne by Vāruņi and Bhadrilā. In the hamlet Maurya lived two Brāhmans, Dhanadeva and Maurya, cousins on their mothers' side. Dhanadeva had a son, Mandaka by his wife Vijayadevā and Dhanadeva died when he was born. Because it was the custom of the people there, Mauryaka, who had no wife, made Vijayadevā his wife. For the custom of the country is not a reason for shame. In the course of time Maurya had a son by Vijayadevā and he was known among the people just as Mauryaputra. Also in Vimalāpuri there was the son, Akampita, of the Brāhman Deva and Jayanti. In the city Kośalā there was the son, Acalabhrāts, of the Brāhman Vasu and Nandā. In the hamlet Tungika in the country Vatsa there was the son, Metārya, of the Brāhman Datta and Karuņā. Also in the city Rājagsha there was the son, Prabhāsa, of the Brāhman Bala and Atibhadrā.
These eleven, the Gautamas and the others were learned in the four Vedas, teachers, each one attended by hundreds of disciples. A Brāhman, Somila, in the city Apāpā wished to make a sacrifice and brought them, who were skilled in sacrificial rites, with faith. Gautama saw gods coming there, because they wished to pay homage to Vira who was in the samavasaraņa there at that time, and said to the Brāhmans:
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