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

The rest of the Suttanta throws some light on the reputation in which Kassapa, the Boy- Wanderer, was held by his fellows. As becomes a flowery speaker (citra-kathi) he is lavish in illustration, and tells a number of stories, some of them quite good, and all of them bearing more or less relation (usually less) to the particular point in dispute. They are sufficient, however, to throw dust into the eyes of Payasi, whose arguments, futile as they are, do not depend so exclusively on analogy, that most misleading of guides.

1 The scholastics, by dividing each of the ten into three (see Childers, sub voce), have brought the number up to thirty, the same as the real number of the more ancient Wings of Wisdom, to which this later list is meant as a counterblast or rival.

2 Compare Mrs. Rhys Davids's remarks in the Introduction to vol. VI.

3 See Miss Hunt's 'Indexes,' under Dana.

[XXIII. pAyAsi suttanta.

REBIRTH AND KARMA.]

[316] Thus have I heard.

i. The venerable Kumara Kassapa1 was once walking on tour in Kosala together with a great company of bhikkhus, to the number of about five hundred, and coming to the Kosalese city named Setavya, he there abode. And there the venerable Kumara Kassapa dwelt to the north of Setavya, in the Si^sapa-tree Grove. Now at that time the chieftain Payasi was residing at Setavya, a spot teeming with life, with much grass-land and wood-land, with water and corn, on a royal domain granted him by King Pasenadi of Kosala, as a royal gift, with power over it as if he were the king 2.

2. Now at that time there came over Payasi an evil view of things to this effect : — ' Neither is there any other world, nor are there beings reborn otherwise than from parents, nor is there fruit or result of deeds well done or ill done.'

[317] Now the brahmins and householders of Setavya heard the news : — ' They say that the wanderer Master Kassapa, disciple of the wanderer Gotama, walking on tour with a great company of bhikkhus, to the number of about five hundred, has arrived at Setavya and is staying there to the north of the town, in the

1 The touching story of his birth is told in the Introductory Story to the twelfth Jataka, translated in Rhys Davids's ' Buddhist Birth Stories,' pp. 199 ff. He was declared by the Buddha to be the best of the preachers in the Order (A. I, 24). Kumara was a nickname, ' The Boy ' (because he was Ordained so young), which distinguished him from the other Kassapas in the Order, and clung to him even in advanced years. It was the more appropriate, as kumara means a boy of good family, a young gentleman, a master ; and Kassapa, the son of a clansman, had been brought up at Pasenadi's court.

2 See Vol. I, p. 1 08, note 1.

35° XXIII. PAYASI SUTTANTA. D.ii. 317.

Siwsapa-tree Grove. Now regarding that Master Kassapa, such is the excellent reputation that has been raised abroad : — ' Wise and expert is he, abounding in knowledge and learning, eloquent and excellent in discourse, venerable too and an Arahant. And good is it to interview Arahants like him.' Then the brahmins and householders of Setavya, coming out from the town in companies and bands from each district so that they could be counted1, went by the north gate, to the Siwsapa-tree Grove.

3. Now at that time Payasi, the chieftain, had gone apart to the upper terrace of his house for siesta. And seeing the people thus go by he said to his doorkeeper : — ' Why are the people of Setavya going forth like this towards the Siwsapa-tree Grove ? ' [318] Then the doorkeeper told him the news. And he said : — ' Then, good doorkeeper, go to the brahmins and householders of Setavya and say to them : — " Payasi, sirs, bids you wait ; he will come himself to see the Wanderer Master Kassapa." That Boy Kassapa will be winning over at the outset those foolish and inexpert brahmins and householders of Setavya to think : — " There is both another world and there are beings who are born not of parents, and there is fruit, and result of deeds well done and ill done." But, my good doorkeeper, these three things do not exist.'

' Even so, sir,' said the doorkeeper, and carried out his master's bidding.