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2. The Discourse on the Fruits of Recluseship The Story of the King's Ministers 150. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, in Jīvaka Komārabhacca's Mango Grove, together with a great Sangha of bhikkhus, with twelve hundred and fifty bhikkhus. Now on that occasion, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, on the Uposatha day, the fifteenth day, of the full moon of the Kōmudī, the Cātumāsinī, was seated on the upper terrace of his palace, surrounded by his ministers. Then King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, on that Uposatha day, uttered this exclamation: "Delightful, indeed, is this moonlit night! Beautiful, indeed, is this moonlit night! Charming, indeed, is this moonlit night! Pleasant, indeed, is this moonlit night! Auspicious, indeed, is this moonlit night! Whom shall we approach today, what recluse or brahmin, by approaching whom our mind might be calmed?" 151. When this was said, a certain minister said to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha: "This, sire, is Pūraṇa Kassapa, a leader of a Sangha and a group, a teacher of a group, well-known, famous, a founder of a sect, regarded as good by many people, one who has been long in the order, long gone forth, advanced in years. Let your majesty approach Pūraṇa Kassapa. Perhaps by your majesty approaching Pūraṇa Kassapa, your mind might be calmed." When this was said, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha remained silent. 152. Another minister also said to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha: "This, sire, is Makkhali Gosāla, a leader of a Sangha and a group, a teacher of a group, well-known, famous, a founder of a sect, regarded as good by many people, one who has been long in the order, long gone forth, advanced in years. Let your majesty approach Makkhali Gosāla. Perhaps by your majesty approaching Makkhali Gosāla, your mind might be calmed." When this was said, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha remained silent. 153. Yet another minister also said to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha: addressed Ajātasattu, the Magadhan king, son of Videhī, thus: “This, lord, is Ajita Kesakambala, a leader of a community, a leader of a group, a teacher of a group, well-known, famous, a founder of a sect, esteemed by many good people, one who has known the night (for a long time), long-ordained, who has traveled far, who has reached old age. May Your Majesty attend upon Ajita Kesakambala. Perhaps, by attending upon Ajita Kesakambala, Your Majesty’s mind might be appeased.” When this was said, King Ajātasattu, the Magadhan, son of Videhī, remained silent. 154. And another royal minister addressed Ajātasattu, the Magadhan king, son of Videhī, thus: “This, lord, is Pakudha Kaccāyana, a leader of a community, a leader of a group, a teacher of a group, well-known, famous, a founder of a sect, esteemed by many good people, one who has known the night (for a long time), long-ordained, who has traveled far, who has reached old age. May Your Majesty attend upon Pakudha Kaccāyana. Perhaps, by attending upon Pakudha Kaccāyana, Your Majesty’s mind might be appeased.” When this was said, King Ajātasattu, the Magadhan, son of Videhī, remained silent. 155. And another royal minister addressed Ajātasattu, the Magadhan king, son of Videhī, thus: “This, lord, is Sañcaya Belaṭṭhaputta, a leader of a community, a leader of a group, a teacher of a group, well-known, famous, a founder of a sect, esteemed by many good people, one who has known the night (for a long time), long-ordained, who has traveled far, who has reached old age. May Your Majesty attend upon Sañcaya Belaṭṭhaputta. Perhaps, by attending upon Sañcaya Belaṭṭhaputta, Your Majesty’s mind might be appeased.” When this was said, King Ajātasattu, the Magadhan, son of Videhī, remained silent. 156. And another royal minister addressed Ajātasattu, the Magadhan king, son of Videhī, thus: “This, lord, is Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta, a leader of a community, a leader of a group, a teacher of a group, well-known, famous, a founder of a sect, esteemed by many good people, one who has known the night (for a long time), long-ordained, who has traveled far, Life's span has come, Reached its term. Let Your Majesty attend upon That Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta. Perhaps, by attending upon Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta, Your Majesty's mind might become clear. When this was said, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, Son of Videhī, Remained silent. The Story of Jīvaka the Royal Physician 157. Now at that time, Jīvaka the royal physician Was sitting silently Not far from King Ajātasattu of Magadha, Son of Videhī. Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, Son of Videhī, Said to Jīvaka the royal physician: "But you, friend Jīvaka, Why are you silent?" "Your Majesty, this Blessed One, The Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One, Is dwelling in our mango grove With a great community of monks, Twelve hundred and fifty monks. And concerning that Blessed One, Such a good report has arisen: 'Indeed, that Blessed One is Arahant, Fully Self-Awakened, Accomplished in knowledge and conduct, Well-gone, knower of the worlds, Unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, Awakened, Blessed One.' Let Your Majesty attend upon That Blessed One. Perhaps, by attending upon The Blessed One, Your Majesty's mind might become clear." 158. "Then, friend Jīvaka, Prepare the elephant conveyances." "Yes, Your Majesty," Jīvaka the royal physician replied To King Ajātasattu of Magadha, Son of Videhī, And having prepared Five hundred elephant conveyances And the king's riding elephant, He reported to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, Son of Videhī: "Your Majesty, The elephant conveyances are prepared; Now you may do as you deem fit." 159. Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, Son of Videhī, Having mounted women On each of the five hundred elephant conveyances, And having himself mounted His riding elephant, Departed from Rājagaha With great royal splendor, While torches were being carried, And proceeded towards Jīvaka the royal physician's mango grove. Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, Son of Videhī Not far from the mango grove there was fear, there was terror, there was hair standing on end. Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Videhī, frightened, agitated, with hair standing on end, spoke to Jīvaka Komārabhacca thus: "Surely, friend Jīvaka, you are not deceiving me? Surely, friend Jīvaka, you are not misleading me? Surely, friend Jīvaka, you are not handing me over to enemies? How can it be that such a great assembly of monks, twelve hundred and fifty monks, there is neither the sound of spitting, nor the sound of coughing, nor any noise?" "Do not fear, great king, do not fear, great king. I am not deceiving you, sire; I am not misleading you, sire; I am not handing you over to enemies, sire. Proceed, great king, proceed, great king, these lamps are burning in the circular pavilion." The Question on the Fruits of Asceticism 160. Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Videhī, went by elephant as far as the elephant could go, dismounted from the elephant, and on foot approached the door of the circular pavilion; having approached, he spoke to Jīvaka Komārabhacca thus: "But where, friend Jīvaka, is the Blessed One?" "That, great king, is the Blessed One; that, great king, is the Blessed One, seated leaning against the central pillar, facing east, surrounded by the assembly of monks." 161. Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Videhī, approached where the Blessed One was; having approached, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of Videhī, having surveyed the silent, silent assembly of monks, uttered an exclamation, clear as a still lake: "May Prince Udayabhadda be endowed with this same tranquility, with which the assembly of monks is now endowed." "You have spoken, great king, according to your affection." "Dear to me, venerable sir, is Prince Udayabhadda. May he, venerable sir, with this tranquility..." may Prince Udayabhadda not be endowed with that peace with which the community of monks is now endowed.” 162. Then King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha having saluted the Blessed One, and having paid homage to the community of monks, sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha said to the Blessed One: “I would like to ask the Blessed One, venerable sir, a certain small matter; if the Blessed One would grant me the opportunity to answer my question.” “Ask, great king, whatever you wish.” 163. “Venerable sir, just as these various crafts, namely, elephant-riders, horse-riders, charioteers, archers, standard-bearers, bodyguards, provision-givers, fierce warriors, royal princes, assault-troops, great elephant-riders, heroes, shield-bearers, sons of slave-women, cooks, barbers, bath-attendants, chefs, garland-makers, dyers, weavers, bamboo-workers, potters, accountants, seal-makers, and whatever other such various crafts there may be, they live by a visible fruit of their craft in this very life; they thereby make themselves happy and content, they make their parents happy and content, they make their wives and children happy and content, they make their friends and associates happy and content, they establish an offering for ascetics and brahmins, leading to a higher state, with happy results, conducive to heaven. Is it possible, venerable sir, to declare in the same way a visible fruit of recluseship in this very life?” 164. “Do you recall, great king, having asked this question of other ascetics and brahmins?” “I recall, venerable sir, having asked this question of other ascetics and brahmins.” “And how, great king, did they answer you? If it is not troublesome for you, please tell.” “It is not troublesome for me, venerable sir, where the Blessed One is seated, or in the presence of the Blessed One.” Then, great king, speak. Pūraṇa Kassapa's Doctrine 165.