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taking a single purse of a thousand, he gives six months' wages to the servants, workers, and men, and it is not exhausted while it is in his hand. His daughter-in-law has such psychic power— sitting by a single basket of four measures, she gives six months' food to the servants, workers, and men, and it is not exhausted until she rises. His slave has such psychic power— when he plows with one plow, seven furrows go.” Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha addressed a certain chief minister, who was skilled in all matters: “It is said, good sir, that in our realm, in the city of Bhaddiya, there lives the householder Meṇḍaka. He has such psychic power— having washed his head, and had the granary swept, he sits outside the door, and a stream of grain falls from the sky, filling the granary. His wife… His son… His daughter-in-law… His slave has such psychic power, when he plows with one plow, seven furrows go. Go, good sir, and find out. As if I myself have seen it, so will it be seen by you.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” that minister replied to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and set out with a fourfold army towards Bhaddiya. In due course, he arrived at Bhaddiya, at the householder Meṇḍaka’s… He approached him; Having approached, he said to Mendaka the householder: "Indeed, householder, I was commanded by the king: 'It is said, friend, in our dominion, in Bhaddiya city, Mendaka the householder resides. He possesses such psychic power: Having bathed his head... (and his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and slave also possess such psychic power). When plowing with one plow, seven furrows proceed.' Go, friend, find out. As it has been seen by me myself, so it will be seen by you.' We shall see your psychic power, householder." Then Mendaka the householder, having bathed his head, had the granary swept, and sat outside the door. From the sky, a stream of grain fell and filled the granary. "Your psychic power, householder, has been seen. We shall see the psychic power of your wife." Then Mendaka the householder commanded his wife: "Then serve the fourfold army with food." Then Mendaka the householder's wife, sitting down with just one measure-pot and one condiment-dish, served the fourfold army with food. It was not exhausted until she rose up. "Your wife's psychic power, householder, has also been seen. We shall see the psychic power of your son." Then Mendaka the householder commanded his son: "Then give the fourfold army six months' wages." Then Mendaka the householder's son, taking just one thousand-pouch, gave the fourfold army six months' wages. It was not exhausted as long as it was in his hand. "Your son's psychic power, householder, has also been seen. We shall see the psychic power of your daughter-in-law." Then Mendaka the householder commanded his daughter-in-law: "Then give the fourfold army six months' food." Then Mendaka the householder's daughter-in-law, sitting down with just one four-dona basket, served the fourfold army... he did not give a six-month meal, it is not consumed until she rises. "You have seen, householder, the psychic power of your daughter-in-law. We shall see the psychic power of your slave." "Indeed, master, the psychic power of my slave is to be seen in the field." "Enough, householder, the psychic power of your slave has been seen." Then that great minister, with a fourfold army, returned again to Rājagaha. He approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha; having approached, he reported this matter to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha. 298. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Vesālī as long as he wished, set out on a wandering tour towards Bhaddiya, together with a great community of monks, thirteen hundred and fifty monks. Then the Blessed One, wandering by stages, arrived at Bhaddiya. There the Blessed One dwelt in Bhaddiya, in the Jātiya Wood. Then Meṇḍaka the householder heard: "Indeed, good sirs, the ascetic Gotama, a Sakyan son, gone forth from the Sakyan clan, has arrived in Bhaddiya, and is dwelling in Bhaddiya, in the Jātiya Wood. And this good report has spread concerning that Blessed Gotama: 'Indeed, that Blessed One is an Arahant, perfectly enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.' He, having realized and directly known this world with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans, proclaims it. He teaches the Dhamma beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle, beautiful in the end, with the right meaning and the right letter, he proclaims the perfectly complete and purified holy life. It is good indeed to see such Arahants." Then Meṇḍaka the householder, having harnessed fine carriages, having mounted a fine carriage, set out from Bhaddiya with fine carriages to see the Blessed One. Now, many sectarians saw Mendaka the householder coming from afar. Having seen Mendaka the householder, they said to him: "Where are you going, householder?" "I am going, sirs, to see the Blessed One, the ascetic Gotama." "But why, householder, being an advocate of action, will you approach the ascetic Gotama, who is an advocate of non-action? For the ascetic Gotama, householder, is an advocate of non-action, he teaches the Dhamma for non-action, and with it he trains his disciples." Then it occurred to Mendaka the householder: "Surely, that Blessed One must be an Arahant, a Fully Self-Awakened One, since these sectarians are so envious." As far as the carriage could go, he went by carriage, then dismounted from the carriage, and on foot, he approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To Mendaka the householder, seated to one side, the Blessed One gave a gradual discourse, that is, a talk on giving... ...then, being independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, he said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable sir... ...May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower, who has taken refuge for life, from this day forward. And may the Blessed One, venerable sir, consent to accept a meal from me tomorrow, together with the community of bhikkhus." The Blessed One consented by his silence. Then Mendaka the householder, knowing the Blessed One's consent, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him respectfully, and departed. Then Mendaka the householder, when that night had passed, had delicious hard and soft food prepared, and had the time announced to the Blessed One: "It is time, venerable sir, the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having put on his lower robe, and taking his bowl and outer robe, went to the dwelling of Mendaka the householder. Having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared, together with the community of bhikkhus. Then Mendaka the householder... Hari, and his son, and his daughter-in-law, and his slave, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To them, the Blessed One gave a gradual discourse, that is, a discourse on giving… …(and so on)… …without reliance on others, they said to the Blessed One in the Teacher's dispensation: “Excellent, venerable sir… …(and so on)… …We, venerable sir, go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge from this day forth, as long as life lasts.” Then Meṇḍaka the householder, having personally satisfied and served the Sangha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with exquisite hard and soft food, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Meṇḍaka the householder said to the Blessed One: “As long as, venerable sir, the Blessed One dwells in Bhaddiya, so long will I provide a regular meal for the Sangha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha.” Then the Blessed One, having instructed, incited, inspired, and gladdened Meṇḍaka the householder with a Dhamma talk, rose from his seat and departed. The story of Meṇḍaka the householder is finished. 181. Permission for five kinds of cow products 299. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Bhaddiya as long as he wished, without taking leave of Meṇḍaka the householder, set out on a journey towards Aṅguttarāpa with a large Sangha of bhikkhus, twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus. Meṇḍaka the householder heard: “Indeed, the Blessed One has set out on a journey towards Aṅguttarāpa with a large Sangha of bhikkhus, twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus.” Then Meṇḍaka the householder ordered his slaves and workers: “Come then, sirs, load much salt, and oil, and rice, and food onto carts and come. And let twelve hundred and fifty cowherds and twelve hundred and fifty cows come along. Wherever we see the Blessed One, there feed him with fresh milk.” Then indeed, Mendaka the householder met the Blessed One on the road, in the wilderness. Then indeed, Mendaka the householder approached the Blessed One; having approached, and having saluted the Blessed One, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Mendaka the householder said this to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, sir, consent to accept a meal from me for tomorrow, together with the Sangha of monks." The Blessed One consented by his silence. Then indeed, Mendaka the householder, knowing the Blessed One's consent, having saluted the Blessed One, and having circumambulated him clockwise, departed. Then indeed, Mendaka the householder, when that night had passed, having had exquisite hard and soft food prepared, announced the time to the Blessed One: "It is time, sir, the meal is ready." Then indeed, the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, went to Mendaka the householder's serving place; having gone there, he sat down on the prepared seat, together with the Sangha of monks.