________________ Vaisali in Ancient Literature 187 and heard his preachings.1 A Licchavi minister named Nanda approached the place where the Blessed One was and the Buddha explained to him the four dhammas.2 When the Buddha was at Vaisali, five hundred Licchavis assembled at the Sarandada Caitya. There was talk about the five kinds of rare gems. Anjana-vaniya, a Vaisalian, went to the Buddha and heard his discourse with the result that he won arbatship.4 A son of a Licchavi raja at Vaisali went to the place where the Buddha was preaching. Hearing his discourse be entered the Order and in due course acquired supernatural knowledge.5 Jenta, born in a princely family of the Licchavis at Vaisali, won arhatship after hearing the dhamma preached by the Buddha.6 Vasitthi who belonged to a clansman's family at Vaisali was taught by the Master about the outlines of the Norm. She soon acquired insight and attained arbatship. Ambapali, known as the Mangogardener's girl, tried to acquire insight. The evanescence of her own body was noticed by her and she saw transitoriness in every phenomenon of the universe. At last she attained arhatsbip.9 A large number of distinguished Licchavis while going to see the Buddha when he was at Vaisali, resounded the Mahavana with a great tumult of joy to see the Buddba as they were greatly devoted to him.10 Mahali, a Licchavi, went to the Buddha and told h'm that Purana Kassapa, a heretical teacher, was of opinion that there was no cause of the sin of beings and without cause they suffered, and there was no cause of the purity of beings and without cause they were purified. The Buddha refuted this theory of Pura na Kassapa.11 - The influence that teachings of the Exalted One exercised upon the fierce Licchavis is unique. The magic power of the wholesome and edifying discourse of the Blessed One had the beneficial effect of removing Ibid., II, 200-2. Samyutta, V. pp. 389-90. 3. Anguttara, III, 167-8. 4. Psalms of the Brethren, p. 56. Ibid, p. 106. 6. Psalms of the Sisters, pp. 23-24. 7. Ibid., pp. 79-80. 8. Psalms of the Sisters, pp. 120-121. 9. Ibid., p. 125. 10. Anguttara, V, p. 133. 11. Majjhima, III, pp. 68-70.
