Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

used in opposition to brahma«a very much as we used 'yeoman' in opposition to 'clerk' (Jataka I, 83); and the two combined are used in opposition to people of other ranks and callings held to be less honourable than that of clerk or yeoman (Jataka I, 218). The compound brahmawa-gahapatika as a collective term comes to be about equivalent to ' priests and laymen ' (see, for instance, below, § 21, and Vinayal, 35, 36). Then again the gahapati is distinct from the subordinate members of the family, who had not the control and management of the common property (Samanna Phala Suttanta 133, = Tevijja Suttanta I, 47); and it is this implication of the term that is emphasized in the text. Buddhaghosa uses, as an explanatory phrase, the words se//^i-gahapati.

p. 208

17. 'Now further, Ananda, there appeared to the Great King of Glory a Wonderful Adviser \ learned, clever, and wise ; and qualified to lead the Great King of Glory to undertake what he ought to undertake, and to leave undone what he ought to leave undone.

' He went up to the Great King of Glory, and said : —

' " Do thou, O King, take thine ease ! I will be thy guide."

' Such, Ananda, was the wonderful Adviser who appeared to the Great King of Glory.

' The Great King of Glory was possessed of these
Seven Precious Things.

18. ' Now, further, Ananda, the Great King of Glory was gifted with Four Marvellous Gifts 2.

' What are the Four Marvellous Gifts ?

A

' In the first place, Ananda, the Great King of Glory was graceful in figure, handsome in appearance, pleasing in manner, and of most beautiful complexion, beyond what other men are.

' The Great King of Glory, Ananda, was endowed with this First Marvellous Gift.

A

19. ' And besides that, Ananda, the Great King of Glory was of long life, and of many years, beyond those of other men.

' The Great King of Glory, Ananda, was endowed with this Second Marvellous Gift.

A

20. ' And besides that, Ananda, the Great King of Glory was free from disease, and free from bodily suffering ; and his internal fire was neither too hot nor too cold, but such as to promote good digestion, beyond that of other men 3.

1 Pari«ayaka-ratana?«. Buddhaghosa says that he was the eldest son of the king. The Lalita Vistara makes him a general.

2 The Four Iddhis. Here again, as elsewhere, it will be noticed that there is nothing supernatural about these four Iddhis. See the passages quoted above, Vol. I, pp. 272 foil. They are merely attributes accompanying or forming part of the majesty (iddhi) of the King of kings.

3 The same thing is said of Ra////apala in the Ra//<6apala Sutta, where Gogerly renders the whole passage : — ' Ra/7/japala is healthy, free from pain, having a good digestion and appetite, being troubled with

p. 209

' The Great King of Glory, Ananda, was endowed with this Third Marvellous Gift.

A

21. [178] 'And besides that, Ananda, the Great King of Glory was beloved and popular with priests and with laymen alike. Just, Ananda, as a father is near and dear to his own sons, just so, Ananda, was the Great King of Glory beloved and popular with priests and with laymen alike. And just, Ananda, as his sons are near and dear to a father, just so, Ananda, were priests and laymen alike near and dear to the Great King of Glory.

'Once, Ananda, the Great King of Glory marched
out with all his fourfold army to the pleasure ground.
There, Ananda, the priests and laymen went up to the
Great King of Glory, and said : —

' " O King, pass slowly by, that we may look upon thee for a longer time ! "

1 But the Great King of Glory, Ananda, addressed his charioteer, and said : —

1 " Drive on the chariot slowly, charioteer, that I may look upon my people [priests and laymen] for a longer time ! "

A

' This was the Fourth Marvellous Gift, Ananda, with which the Great King of Glory was endowed.

' These are the Four Marvellous Gifts, Ananda, with which the Great King of Glory was endowed.'

A

22. ' Now to the Great King of Glory, Ananda, there occurred the thought : —