________________
IV, 4, 3.
MURDER OF MOGGALLÂNA.
263
Neither his mother nor his father, neither his sisters nor his brother, neither his friends nor his intimate associates can protect him then. He has fallen therein under the power of the king who will issue his command respecting him. And why is that so? Because of the wrong that he has done. So is it precisely the effect of Karma which overcomes all other influences, and has them under its command, and no other influence can avail the man in whom Karma is working out its inevitable end. It is as when a jungle fire has arisen on the earth, then can not even a thousand pots of water avail to put it out, but the conflagration overpowers all, and brings it under its control. And why is that so ? Because of the fierceness of its heat. So is it precisely the effect of Karma which overcomes all other influences, and has them under its command; and no other influence can avail the man in whom Karma is working out its inevitable end. That is why the venerable one, great king, the great Moggallâna, when, at a time when he was possessed by Karma, he was being beaten to death with clubs, was yet unable to make use of his power of Iddhi.'.
Very good, Nagasena! That is so, and I accept it as you say. [Here ends the problem as to the murder of
| Moggallana]
of the law being, no doubt, understood. But the Simhalese has against any one.'
* Iddhiyâ samannâ hâro nâho si. See the use of this word, which is not in Childers, at p. 123 of the Sumangala (on Digha 1, 3, 24). The Simhalese goes on to much greater length than the Pâli, giving the full religious life history of the famous disciple (pp. 250, 251).
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