________________ 140 Homage to Vaisal Bandhula. His wife, Mallika, was barren, and he sent her away to Kuginara, telling her to return to her own family. "I will go", said she, "When I have saluted the Master". She went to Jetavana, and greeting the Tathagata stood waiting on one side. "Where are you going ?", he asked. She replied, "My husband has sent me home, Sir", "Why" asked the Master. "I am barren, Sir, I have no son". "If that is all", said he, "there is no reason why you should go. Return". She was much pleased, and saluting the Master went home again. Her husband asked her why she had come back. She answered, "The Dasabala sent me back, my lord". "Then", said the Commander in-Chief, "the Tathagata must have seen good reason". The woman soon after conceived, and when her cravings began, told him of it. "What is it you want ?" he asked. "My lord", said she, I desire to go and bathe and drink the water of the tank in Vaisali City where the families of the kings get water for the sprinkling". The Commander-in-Chief promised to try. Seizing his bow, strong as a thousand bows, he put his wife in a chariot, and left Savatthi, and drove his chariot to Vaisali. Now, at this time there lived close to the gate a Licchavi named Mabali, who had been educated by the same teacher as the king of Kogala's general, Bandbula. This man was blind, and used to advise the Licchavis on all matters temporal and spiritual. Hearing the clatter of the chariot as it went over the threshold, he said, "The noise of the chariot of Bandhula the Mallian! This day there will be fear for the Liccbavis." By the tank there was set a strong guard, within and without; above it, was spread an iron net; not even a bird could find room to get through. But the general, dismounting from his car, put the guards to flight with the blows of his sword, and burst through the iron network, and in the tank bathed his wife and gave her to drink of the water; then after bathing himself, he set Mallika on the chariot, and left the town, and went back by the way he came. The guards went and told all to the Licchavis. Then were the kings of the Licchavis angry; and five hundred of them, mounted on five hundred chariots, departed to capture Bandbula the Mallian. They informed Mabali of it, and he said, "Go not ! for he will slay you all". But they said, "Nay, but we will go". "Then if you come to a place where a wheel has sank up to the nave, you must return. If you return not then, return back from that place when you hear the noise of a thunderbolt. If then you turo not, turn back from that place where you shall see a hole in front of your chariots. Go no further !" But they did not turn back according to his word, but pursued on and on. Mallika espied them and
