they became indifferent and unconcerned about all the things of this material world, and the King's mandate was entirely lost sight of.

The sovereign of Kapilawot, seeing that his nobleman did not return from the country of Magatha,75 and that no news were heard of him, dispatched a second messenger with an equal number of followers on the same errand. They all were taken up with Budha's preachings and became Rahandas. The same thing happened to seven messengers, successively sent to Radzagnio for the same purpose. They, with their respective retinues, became converts of the first class.

Disappointed at seeing that none of the messengers had returned to bring him some news regarding his son, king Thoodandana exclaimed: is there no one in my palace, that bears any affection unto me? shall I not be able to get a person who could procure to me some information respecting my son? He looked among his courtiers and selected one named Kaludari as the fittest person for such a difficult errand. Kaludari had been born on the same day as Budha, with him he had spent the age of his infancy, and lived on terms of the most sincere friendship. The King said to him: noble "Kaludari, you know how earnestly I long to see my son. Nine messengers have already been sent to the city of Radzagnio to invite my son to come over to me, and none of them has, as yet, come back to me to bring some information respecting the object of my tenderest affections. I am old now, and the end of my existence is quite uncertain; could you not undertake to bring my son over to me. Whether you become Rahan or not, let me have the happiness of contemplating once more my beloved son, ere I leave this world." The nobleman promised to the King to comply with his royal order, and attended with a retinue of a thousand followers, he set out for the city of Radzagnio. Having reached the Weloowon monastery, he listened to Budha's preachings and, like the former messengers, he became at once Rahanda with all his followers.

Gaudama having obtained the Budhaship spent the first season (lent), in the solitude of Migadawoon. Thence he proceeded to the solitude of Ooroowela, where he remained three months, until he had completed the work of converting the three Kathabas. It was on the full moon of Piatho (February) that he entered into

the city of Radzagnio, accompanied with his thousand disciples. He had just stayed two months in that place, so that there were five months since he had left the country of Baranathee. Seven days after Kaludari's arrival, the cold season being over, the new convert addressed Budha as follows: illustrious Phra, the cold season is over, and the warm season has just begun, this is now the proper time to travel throughout the country, nature wears now a green aspect, the trees of the forests are in full blossom, the roads are lined, on the right and left, with trees loaded with fragrant blossoms and delicious fruits: the peacock proudly expands its magnificent tail: birds of every description fill the air with their ravishing and melodious singing. At this season, heat and cold are equally temperate, and nature is scattering profusely its choicest gifts. With such and like expressions, Kaludari endeavoured to dispose Budha to undertake a journey to Kapilawot. Gaudama hearing all this, said: what means this? to what purpose are uttered so many fine expressions? Kaludari replied: your father, O! blessed Budha, is advanced in years, he has sent me to invite you to come over to Kapilawot that he might see you before his death, he and your royal parents will be rejoiced at hearing your most excellent law. Well, said Budha, go and tell the Rahans to hold themselves ready for the journey. It was arranged that 10,000 Rahandas from Magatha, and 10,000 from Kapilawot would accompany the illustrious travellers. The distance between the two countries is sixty Youdzanas. Sixty days were to be employed in going over that distance, so they were to travel at the rate of but one Youdzana a day.

Kaludari was anxious to go and inform the King of the happy issue of his negociation. He flew through the air and in a short time reached the palace of the Lord of Kapilawot. The King seeing him was exceedingly glad, he desired the illustrious Rahan to sit in a becoming place, and gave orders that his patta should be filled with the choicest dishes from the royal table. Meanwhile Kaludari related to the King all the circumstances attending his journey. When he had spoken, Thoodandana desired him to take his meal, Kaludari begged to be excused, saying that he would go and take his meal in the presence of Budha. Where is he now, replied the King? Mighty lord, answered Kaludari,

T

Budha accompanied with twenty thousand Rahandas, is on his way to this country, to pay a visit to his royal father; on this very day he has left the city of Radzagnio. Thoodandana was exceedingly pleased, he said again to Kaludari: eat your meal here, and please to take another meal to my son, I wish to supply him daily with his food during all his journey. Kaludari acceded to the King's request. When his meal was over, they cleansed his patta with the most exquisite perfumes, and afterwards filled it with the best and choicest eatables. The patta was then respectfully handed to the aerial messenger, who in the presence of a large crowd of people, rose in the air with the patta under his arm, and in an instant arrived in the presence of Gaudama, to whom he offered the vessel containing the delicious food from his father's table. Budha received the food with pleasure and ate it. The same thing was daily done during all the time the journey lasted. Kaludari went every day to the palace through the air, ate his meal there, and brought that of his distinguished instructor, who during all the way partook of no other food but that which was brought over to him from his father's palace. Every day Kaludari carried news of the progress of Budha's journey. By this means, he increased in the heart of all an ardent desire of seeing him, and disposed every one to wait on the great Gaudama with favorable and good dispositions. The services rendered on this occasion by Kaludari were much valued by Budha himself, who said: Kaludari is disposing the people to welcome our arrival, he is therefore one of the most excellent among my disciples.

The princes and all members of the royal family having heard of Gaudama's arrival, consulted among themselves as to the best means of paying due respect to the noble and illustrious visitor. They selected the grove of Nigrandatha,76 as the fittest place to receive him with his disciples. The place was properly cleared and made ready for the long expected company. The inhabitants of the country, attired with their richest dress, carrying flowers and perfumes, went out to meet Budha. Children of both sexes opened the procession; they were followed by the children of the noblest families, next came all the persons belonging to the royal family; all went to the grove of Nigrandatha, where Budha had just arrived with the twenty thousand Rahans

that accompanied him. The princes, secretly influenced by pride, thought within themselves, this prince Theiddat is younger than we all, he is but our nephew, let the young people prostrate before him; as to ourselves, let us remain sitting down behind them. This was quickly perceived by Budha, who said to himself: my relatives refuse to prostrate before me, I will now even compel them to do so. Whereupon he entered into ecstasy, rose in the air, and standing over the heads of his relatives, as a person shaking dust over them, he exhibited to their astonished regards, on a white mango tree, wonders of fire and water. Thoodandana surprised at such a wonderful display of supernatural power, exclaimed; illustrious Budha, on the day you were born, they brought you to the presence of the Rathee Kaladewela to do homage to him, on that occasion having seen you placing your two feet on the Rathec's forehead, I prostrated before you for the first time. On the day of the ploughing solemn rejoicings, you were placed under the shade of the tree Vsampoo-tha-pic. The sun by its daily motion had caused the shadow of all surrounding trees to change its direction, that of tree under which you were placed, alone remained unmoved, I prostrated a second time before you, and now at the sight of this new wonder, I again bow down to you. The example of the king was instantly imitated by all the princes, who humbly bowed down to Budha. Satisfied with having humbled his proud relatives, Budha came down, and sat in the place prepared for him. He then caused a shower of red rain to pour down over the assembled multitudes. It had the virtue to wet those who liked it, and not to wet those who disliked it. This is not, said Budha, the only time when such a wonder has happened, the same thing took place once during one of my former existences, when I was prince Wethandra. He went on, relating the most interesting circumstances of that former state of existence. The whole assembly now delighted at hearing his preachings, and witnessing the display of his power. They all withdrew, when the preaching was over, and retired to their respective places, without, however, inviting Budha to come and take his meal at their houses.

On the following morning, Budha set out with his twenty thousands followers to get his meal. When he had arrived at the gate

of the city, he stood for a while, deliberating within himself whether he would go to the palace to receive his meal, or go from street to street to beg for it. He paused for a while, reflecting on the course of conduct that had been followed by all the former Budhas. Having known that they all without exception had been in the habit of going out from house to house in quest of their food, he resolved at once to follow their example. Whereupon he entered the city and began to perambulate the streets in search of his food. The citizens from the various stories of their houses were looking out with amazement at such an unusual sight. How is this, said they, we see prince Ravula and his mother Yauthandara going out attired with the richest dress, sitting on the most elegant conveyance, and now Prince Theiddat 78 is appearing in the streets with his hairs and beard shaved, covered with a yellow dress, such a thing is unbecoming indeed. Whilst they were holding this language, on a sudden rays of the purest light shot forth from the person of Budha, and illuminated all the objects around his person. At this unexpected sight, they all joined in praising and extolling the virtue and glory of Budha.

King Thoodandana was soon informed that his son was perambulating the streets of the city in the dress of a mendicant. Startled at such a news, he rose and seizing the extremity of his outer garment, he run to the encounter of his son. As soon as he saw him, he exclaimed: illustrious Budha, why do you expose us to such a shame. Is it thus necessary to go from door to door to beg your food? Could not a better and more decent mode be rcsorted to for supplying your wants. My noble father, said Budha, it is meet and convenient that all Rahans should go out and beg their food. But, replied the monarch, are we not descendants of the illustrious Princes Thamadat. There is not a single person in our illustrious race that has ever acted in such an indecorous Budha retorted: my noble father, 79 the descent from the glorious princes Thamadat is something that belongs both to you and your royal family, the lineage of a Budha is quite different from that of kings and princes, it bears no resemblance to it. Their ways and manners must essentially differ from those of princes. All former Budhas have always been in the habit of thus going out in search of their food. Then stopping his course and standing in the street, he uttered the following stanzas: my

manner.