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

they dispatched a messenger. Now this again, Master Kassapa, is evidence to me that [324] there is neither another world, nor rebirth other than of parentage, nor fruit and result of deeds well-done and ill-done.'

9. ' Well then, Prince, I will make you a simile, for by a simile some intelligent persons will recognize the meaning of what is said. Just as if a man were plunged head-under in a pit of mire. And you were to order men saying : — " Well now, masters, pull the man out of that pit." They, saying " Very good," were to comply and pull him out. You were then to say to them : — " Well now, masters, brush the mire smearing him from off his body with split bamboo 1." And they were to obey you. And you were to say to them : — " Well now, masters, shampoo this man's body a treble massage with yellow shampoo powder." And they were to do so. And you were to say to them : — " Now, masters, rub him with oil, and bathe him three times using fine chunam." And they were to do so. And you were to say to them : — " Well, masters, now dress his hair 2." And they were to do so. [325] And you were to say to them : — " Now, masters, deck him with a costly garland and costly unguent and costly garments." And they were to do so. And you were to say to them : — " Well, masters, take him up on to the palace and amuse him with the pleasures of the five senses." And they were to do so. Now what think you, O chieftain ? Would this man, well bathed, well anointed, shaved and combed, dressed, wreathed and adorned, clad in clean raiment, taken to the upper palace, and indulging in, surrounded by, treated to, the five pleasures of sense, be desirous of being plunged once more into that pit of mire ? '

' No indeed, Master Kassapa.'

1 No doubt a sort of brush made of split bamboo.

2 How elaborate were the coiffures used by men at this date may be seen from the illustration in Rhys Davids's ' Buddhist India,' p. 97.

p. 355

' And why ?'

' Foul, Master Kassapa, is a pit of mire, foul and counted as such, stinking, disgusting, repulsive, and counted as such.'

' Even so, Prince, are human beings in the eyes of the gods, foul and counted as such, stinking, disgusting, repulsive, and counted as such. The smell of man offends the gods a hundred leagues away. What then ? Shall your friends and companions, your kinsmen and connexions who, having kept the precepts, are reborn into the bright and happy place, come and bring you word that there is another world, that there is rebirth other than by parentage, [326] that there is fruit and result of deeds well-done and ill-done ? Let this exposition, chieftain, be evidence to you that these things exist.'

10. 'Even though Master Kassapa says so, it still appears to me that not one of these things exists.'

' Have you any further evidence, prince ? ' . . .

1 1 have, Master Kassapa.'

'As how?'