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

2 The curious popular belief as to good and bad fairies haunting the sites of houses gave rise to a quack science, akin to astrology, called vatthu-vijja, which Buddhaghosa explains here at some length, and which is frequently condemned elsewhere in the Five Nikayas. See, for instance, I of the Maha-silam, translated above, Vol. I, p. 18. The belief is turned to ridicule in the edifying legend, No. 40, in my 'Buddhist Birth Stories/ pp. 326-34.

3 This paragraph is of importance to the orthodox Buddhist as proving the Buddha's power of prophecy and the authority of the

p. 93

29. Now Sunidha and Vassakara, the chief ministers of Magadha, proceeded to the place where the Exalted One was. And when they had come there they exchanged with the Exalted One the greetings and compliments of politeness and courtesy, and stood there respectfully on one side. And, so standing, Sunidha and Vassakara, the chief ministers of Magadha, spake thus to the Exalted One :—

' May the venerable Gotama do us the honour of taking his meal, together with the company of the brethren, at our house to-day.' And the Exalted One signified, by silence, his consent.

30. Then when Sunidha and Vassakara, the chief ministers of Magadha, perceived that he had given his consent, they returned to the place where they dwelt. And on arriving there, they prepared sweet dishes of boiled rice, and cakes ; and informed the Exalted One, saying : —

' The hour of food has come, O Gotama, and all is ready.'

And the Exalted One robed himself early, took his bowl with him, and repaired, with the brethren, to the dwelling-place of Sunidha and Vassakara, and sat down on the seat prepared for him. And with their own hands they set the sweet rice and the cakes before the brethren with the Buddha at their head, and waited on them till they had had enough. And when the Exalted One had finished eating his meal, the ministers brought a low seat, and sat down respectfully at his side.

31. And when they were thus seated the Exalted
One gave thanks in these verses : —

' Wheresoe'er the prudent man shall take up his abode

Buddhist scriptures. To those who conclude that such a passage must have been written after the event that is prophesied (if any), it may be valuable evidence of the age both of the Vinaya and of this Maha Parinibbana Suttanta. See the note at ' Vinaya Texts,' II, 102.

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Let him support the brethren there, good men of self-control, And give the merit of his gifts to the deities who haunt the spot l. Revered, they will revere him : honoured, they honour him again ; Are gracious to him as a mother to her own, her only son. And the man who has the grace of the gods, good fortune he beholds.'

32. [89] And when he had thanked the ministers in these verses he rose from his seat and departed thence. And they followed him as he went, saying, ' The gate the Samana Gotama goes out by to-day shall be called Gotama's gate, and the ferry at which he crosses the river shall be called Gotama's ferry.' And the gate he went out at was called Gotama's gate.

33. But the Exalted One went on to the river. And at that time the river Ganges was brimful and overflowing ; and wishing to cross to the opposite bank, some began to seek for boats, some for rafts of wood, whilst some made rafts of basket-work. Then the Exalted One as instantaneously as a strong man would stretch forth his arm, or draw it back again when he had stretched it forth, vanished from this side of the river, and stood on the further bank with the company of the brethren.

34. And the Exalted One beheld the people who wished to cross to the opposite bank looking some of them for boats and some of them for rafts of wood, and some of them for rafts of basket-work ; and as he beheld them he brake forth at that time into this song : —

1 Tasa-w dakkhi;/aw iidise. See Theri Gatha 307, 311;
Mil. 294.

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' They who have crossed the ocean drear
Making a solid path across the pools —
Whilst the vain world ties its basket rafts —
These are the wise, these are the saved indeed!1 '

End of the First Portion for Recitation.