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At night, however, he came to him to inform him of the reason of his conduct ; he expected Budha and his priests the next day to receive an alms- offering at his dwelling, and he had been too much engaged in making the necessary preparation to show him the accustomed courtesy. At the mention of the name of Budha, An^pidu instantly formed the resolution to see the sage, which arose from the merit he had received in former births. Nor was he willing to delay his visit to the sage for a single moment, until his friend told him that Budha would be at that hour in retirement, and could not be disturbed. The merchant of Sewet retired to rest, but in the first watch of the night there was a preternatural light in his chamber ; as he supposed that it was day, he arose, and it was only by seeing the moon shining in the sky that he was convinced of his error. In the second watch he was deceived by a similar appearance. In the third watch there was the same light, and as he was now certain that it was day, he proceeded towards the residence of Budha. The doors of the house and the gates of the city opened to him of theii* own accord. When he had walked some distance, he came to a cemetery, and saw a human body which he knew was a corpse, as it was cold, putrid, and emitted a most offensive smell. At the sight of it he became afraid, when the light vanished, and it was intensely dark all around. But a dewa who resided in the cemetery spoke to him on the great merit of those who set their feet to the hearing of bana, by which he was encouraged, and the light returned. As he proceeded further, he reflected, " There are many now who say that they are Budha, and I may be deceived ; there was a name given me, Sudatta, by my parents, which is known only to them and me ; if G6tama tells me what it is, when I ask him to repeat it, I will believe in him ; but if he cannot repeat it, I will seek Budha elsewhere." Early in the morning, Budha, who knew what was passing in his mind, went to meet him, and on seeing him, said, " Sudatta, come hither !" On hearing this word, the faith of Anepidu was established, and he promised to cleave unto the sage until the end of his life. Then Budha repeated to him two stanzas ; " He who is free from evil desire attains the highest estate, and is 224 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. always in prosperity. He who cnts off demerit, who subdues the mind, and attains a state of perfect equanimity, secures nirwana ; this is his prosperity." Anepidu now entered the first path, and requested Budha to receive from him on the following day an alms-offering, attended by his priests. Anepidu, on returning to the house of his friend, informed him of what he had done ; who said that when he went to Sewet, his host was at all charges, and that he must allow the same to be done at Rajagaha ; but Anepidu refused his assist- ance, as well as that of the king and of the chief of the villages, which were offered, and purchased vessels, ovens, and all the requisite utensils, at his own expence. When the repast was conclnded, he invited Budha to Sewet, telling him that the king of that city reigned over the countries of Kdsi and Kosol, 300 yojanas in extent, and that his own wealth was immense. The road between Rajagaha and Sewet, a distance of 45 yojanas, was richly ornamented, and resting-places were erected at the end of every yojana, as Budha accepted the invitation. When An6pidu returned to Sewet, he examined carefully the suburbs of the city, that he might find a suitable place for the erection of the wihdra, not too near nor too distant. At last he found a place of this description, belonging to the prince Jeta. But when he asked the prince to dispose of it, he replied that he would not let him have it, unless he were to cover it over with golden masurans.* " It is a bargain," replied Anepidu, " upon these conditions the garden is mine." When the prince saw that he was serious, he was unwilling to abide by what he had said ; and as An6pidu would not give up his right, the matter was referred to a court of justice, and decided against the prince. Jeta then reflected, " My garden is a thousand cubits in length and breadth ; no one has wealth enough to be able to cover it with gold ; it is therefore yet mine, thoagh the case is decided against me." The prince and An6pidu went together to the garden, and saw that all the useful trees were cat down, only such trees as sandal and mango being permitted to remain ; and the whole place was made perfectly level. Then An6pidu called his treasurer, and commanded that his stores of wealth should * This is sufficiently extrayagant. It waa thought a great price when Kandaules, king of £ydia, paid Bularchus, for a picture of the battle of Magnetes, as much gold coin as would coyer it. VII. LEGENDS OF G(5TAMA BUDHA. 225 be entered, and as many masnranB brongbt out as would be necessary. The treasurer accordingly emptied seven stores, and measured the golden masurans as if they had been grain. The masurans were measured to the extent of ninety yalas, and were then brought and thrown down in the garden ; and a thousand men, each taking up a bundle of money, began to cover the garden. An^pidu commanded his servants to measure the space occupied by the standing trees, and give as many masurans as would have been required if they had not been there, that he might lose no part of the merit he hoped to gain. When he saw that the entrance was not covered, he commanded his treasurer to break open another of the stores, and bring a further supply, though he knew by the plates of copper on which bis wealth was numbered, that the store preserved by his fore- father in the seventh generation backward had been opened, and that the whole sum disposed of amounted to 18 k6tis of masu- rans ; but when Jeta saw that although Anepidu had already given so much, he was equally ready to give more, he reflected that it would be well for him also to partake in the merit, and declared that the sum he had received was sufficient. After this was concluded, Anepidu began the erection of the wihara; around it were houses for the priests ; offices that were suitable lor the day, and others for the night ; an ambulatory ; tanks ; and gardens of fruit and flower trees ; and around the whole, extending 4000 cubits, was a wall 18 cubits high. The whole of these erections cost 18 k6tis of masurans. In addition, Anepidu had many friends who assisted him, some by their personal labour, and others by their wealth. Jeta also said, " What has a prince to do with money procured from a merchant ?" so he expended the whole of the 18 k6tis he had received in building a palace seven stories high, at each of the four sides of the garden. When all was finished, Budha was invited to visit the place ; and he set off by easy stages, sixteen miles each day, so that he was forty -five days in travelling from Hajagaha to Sewet. On his approach to the city, he was met by a splendid procession, composed of different companies with 500 persons in each, carrying appropriate vessels and emblems, of the most costly description. One company was headed by Anepidu's two daughters, Maha Subadra and Chula Subadra. Anepidu Q 226 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. escorted Budba to the wih4ra, and then enquired from the sage unto whom it should be offered, who said '* Let it be offered to the whole priesthood, whether present or absent." Then Anepidn poured water from a golden vessel upon the hands of Budha, in token that he dedicated the wihara to all priests whatsoever, from whichever of the four quarters thej might come ; alter which Budha repeated a stanza : — " He who re- aides in this wihara will be protected from heat and cold; from wild beasts, mosquitoes, and nagas ; he who dedicated this wihdra, if there be to him another birth, will in that birth be protected from all these dangers." By listening to the bana, many became rahats. Budha resided in the wih&ra nine months, and in the daily alms which Anepidu presented, he expended 18 k6tis ; so that the whole of the gifts that he presented would amount to 54 k6tis of masurans. In former ages, the same place was given to the Budhas by other rich merchants. 17. The History of Wisdkhd. There resided in Anga and Magadha, five merchants, called Meda, J6ti, Jatila, Elakawali, and Punnaka; the wealth that they possessed was immense.