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

' My lords, I have just invited the Exalted One and his brethren for their morrow's meal,' said she.

1 Ambapali ! give up this meal to us for a hundred thousand,' said they.

' My lords, were you to offer all Vesali with its subject territory, I would not give up so honourable a feast ! '

Then the Licchavis cast up their hands, exclaiming : — ' We are outdone by this mango girl ! we are outreached by this mango girl 1 ! ' and they went on to Ambapali's grove.

17. When the Exalted One saw the Licchavis approaching in the distance, he addressed the brethren, and said : —

' O brethren, let those of the brethren who have never seen the Tavati;;/sa gods, gaze upon this company of the Licchavis, behold this company of the Licchavis, compare this company of the Licchavis — for they are even as a company of Tavatiwsa gods V

1 Literally ' by this woman.' But I have tried to reproduce the evident word-play. Ambapali means mango grower, one who looks after mangoes.

2 The Tavatimsa-deva are the gods in the heaven of the Great

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18. [07] And when they had ridden as far as the ground was passable for carriages, the Licchavis alighted there, and then went on foot to the place where the Exalted One was, and took their seats respectfully by his side. And when they were thus seated the Exalted One instructed and roused and incited and gladdened them with religious discourse l.

Then they — instructed and roused and incited and gladdened with his words — addressed the Exalted One, and said : — ' May the Exalted One do us the honour of taking his meal, together with the brethren, at our house to-morrow ? '

' O Licchavis, I have promised to dine to-morrow with Ambapali the courtezan,' was the reply.

Then the Licchavis cast up their hands, exclaiming : — ' We are outdone by this mango girl ! we are outreached by this mango girl ' ! And expressing their thanks and approval of the words of the Exalted One, they rose from their seats and bowed down before the Exalted One, and keeping him on their right hand as they passed him, they departed thence.

19. And at the end of the night Ambapali the courtezan made ready in her mansion sweet rice and cakes, and announced the time to the Exalted One, saying: — ' The hour, lord, has come, and the meal is ready ! '

And the Exalted One who had dressed himself early in the morning, took his bowl, and his robe, and went with the brethren to the place where Ambapali's mansion was : and when he had come there he seated himself on the seat prepared for him. And Ambapali

Thirty-Three, the principal deities of the Vedic Pantheon. See
A. Ill, 239; Sum. I, 310; Mahavastu I, 262.

1 The Malalahkara-vatthu gives the substance of the discourse on this occasion. ' The princes had come in their finest and richest dress; in their appearance they vied in beauty with the nats (or angels). But foreseeing the ruin and misery that was soon to come upon them all, the Buddha exhorted his disciples to enteriain a thorough contempt for things that are dazzling to the eyes, but essentially perishable and unreal in their nature/ — Bigandet, 2nd ed., p. 260.

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the courtezan set the sweet rice and cakes before the Order, with the Buddha at their head, and waited upon them till they refused any more.

And when the Blessed One had quite finished his meal, and had cleansed the bowl and his hands, the courtezan had a low stool brought, and [98] sat down at his side, and addressed the Exalted One, and said : — ' Lord, I present this pleasaunce to the order of mendicants, of which the Buddha is the chief.' And the Exalted One accepted the gift ; and after instructing, and rousing, and inciting, and gladdening her with religious discourse, he rose from his seat and departed thence.1