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

9. " Comrades too has this Exalted One gotten, both students only, travelling along the Way, and Arahants who have lived ' the life.' Them does he not send away, but dwells in fellowship with them whose hearts are set on one object. A teacher so dwelling, of this kind, of this character, we find not, whether we survey the past, or whether we survey the present, save only that Exalted One.

10. "Well established1 are the gifts made2 to that Blessed One, widely established is his fame, so much so that the nobles, methinks, continue well disposed towards him. Yet notwithstanding, that Exalted One takes sustenance with a heart unintoxicated by pride. One so living, a teacher of this kind, of this character, we find not, whether we survey the past, or whether we survey the present, save only that Exalted One.

1 1. [224] " The acts, again, of that Exalted One conform to his speech ; his speech conforms to his acts. One who has so carried out hereby the greater and the lesser matters of the Law, a teacher of this kind, of this character, we find not, whether we survey the past, or whether we survey the present ; save only that Exalted One.

12. " Crossed, too, by that Exalted One has been the sea of doubt, gone by for him is all question of the ' how ' and ' why,' accomplished for him is every purpose with respect to his high resolve and the ancient rule of right. A teacher who has attained thus far, of this kind, of this character, we find not, whether we survey the past, or whether we survey the present, save only that Exalted One."

' These eight true praises, lord, of the Exalted One

1 Abhinippanno labho.

2 Ajjhasayaw adi-brahmacariyaOT. Buddhaghosa says these two words are to be taken distributively, and refer to his lofty intentions and to the ethics of the Aryan Path.

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did Sakka, ruler of the gods, utter before the Threeand-Thirty gods. Hereat the Three-and-Thirty gods were even more abundantly pleased, gladdened and filled with joy and happiness over the things they had heard.

13. 'Then certain gods, lord, spoke thus: — "Oh! sir, if only four supreme Buddhas might arise in the world and teach the Doctrine even as the Exalted One ! That would make for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, for compassion to the world, for the good and the gain and the weal of gods and men."

' And certain other gods spoke thus : — " It would suffice, sir, if there arose three supreme Buddhas in the world."

' And certain other gods spoke thus : — " It would suffice, sir, if two supreme Buddhas arose in the world . . . for the good and the gain and the weal of gods and men."

14. [225] 'Then answered Sakka, ruler of the gods to the Three-and-Thirty : — " Nowhere, gentlemen, and at no time is it possible that, in one and the same world-system, two Arahant Buddhas supreme should arise together, neither before nor after the other. This can in no wise be. Ah ! gentlemen, would that this Blessed One might yet live for long years to come, free from disease and free from suffering" ! That would make for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, for loving compassion to the universe, for the good and the gain and the weal of gods and men !

' Then, lord, the Three-and-Thirty gods having thus deliberated and taken counsel together concerning- the matter for which they were assembled and seated in the Hall of Good Counsel, with respect to that matter the Four Kings were receivers of the spoken word, the Four Great Kings were receivers of the admonition given, remaining the while in their places, not retiring1.

1 This sounds very much as if the Four Great Kings were looked upon as Recorders (in their memory, of course) of what had been

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Taking the uttered word and speech, the Kings
Stood there, serene and calm, each in his place.