disciples precede them in that way? Having ascertained that the latter alternative always happened, Thariputra examined his own existence and found that the period of his life was not to extend beyond seven days. He next considered what place was the fittest for him to depart for Niban: the remembrance of his mother occurred to his mind, and he said to himself: my mother has given birth to seven Rahandas, and she has not as yet taken refuge in the three previous things, Budha, the law, and the assembly of the perfect. Is she capable of understanding and knowing the four ways to perfection? yes, she is indeed. But who is destined to preach to her? I am the person who ought to perform such a good office to her. I will go, teach her and by my instructions make her renounce her false belief and embrace the true one: the very room I was born in, shall be the spot where from I shall depart for the rest of Niban. On this day, I will ask Budha's leave to go to my birth-place. Having come to this resolution, he called the faithful Tsanda, and said to him: go and summon my five hundred Rahans to attend at my place. Tsanda departed forthwith and said to the Rahans; the great Thariputra desires to go to the village of Nolaka; be ready to accompany him: arrange every thing in your own place, take up your Pattas and Hiwarans. The five hundred Rahans immediately complied with the request, and were ready to follow their master. Thariputra having disposed every thing in his own cell, rose up and casting an attentive and serious look upon the place he was wont to sit on during the day, he said: this is the last time I will ever see this place: never will I any more enter into this cell. Thereupon he left the spot, followed by the five hundred Rahans, went in the presence of Gaudama, and humbly requested permission to go and quietly enter into the state of Niban, and thereby be delivered from the whirlpool of endless existences. Gaudama asked him, in what place he intended to obtain Niban, Thariputra replied: in the country of Magada in the village of Nalaka, in the very room where I was born. You alone, O Thariputra, said Budha, know the time of your entering the state of Niban-as it is difficult if not impossible ever to find among all my disciples one like unto you, I desire you to preach once more to the assembly of Rahans. Thariputra knowing that Budha wished him at the same time to show a display of his power, pros

trated before him, then rose up in the air to the height of one palm tree and come down to worship Budha. He rose successively seven times in the air to the length of a palm tree higher than the preceding one: On the last time he stood in the air for some time and announced the law to the multitude of Rahans and people; then coming down he submissively requested Budha to withdraw into the interior of the monastery. Budha complying with his wishes, entered into a hall studded with diamonds. Thariputra having bowed towards the four points of the compass, said: O most glorious Budha, a hundred thousands of worlds ago, I was prostrated at the feet of Budha Anaumadathi, and earnestly prayed that I might enjoy the happiness of seeing all successive Budhas that would appear during the period of my countless existences. My prayer has been heard, and now I contemplate you, O most glorious Budha, and it is for the last time that I will ever enjoy your presence. Now, O Budha, worthy to be adored by all rational beings, I will soon be freed from the thraldom of existences, and this existence shall be the last; this my prostration before you shall be the last: the end of my life is near at hand: seven days hence, like a man who rids himself of a heavy burthen, I will be freed from the heavy load of my body. He raised his joined hands to his forehead, and from the extremities of the ten fingers rays of glory shot forth. In this position, he bowed to Budha and withdrawing slowly, keeping his face towards Budha, he continued bowing down as long as he could see him, because it was for the last time. When Budha was out of sight, he took his departure. At the same time, the earth trembled with a tremendous shake. Budha said to the Rahans that surrounded Thariputra beloved children, your elder brother is departing, accompanying him for a while. The people too, hearing that Thariputra was going away, came forward and gathering in large crowds, said to each other: the great Thariputra having obtained leave from Budha, is going to prepare himself for the state of Niban, let us follow him that we may as yet enjoy his presence. Whereupon taking flowers and perfumes in their hands they ran in the direction he had taken, with dishevelled hair, crying aloud, with tears and lamentations: where is Thariputra? Having come up to him, they said: illustrious Rahan you have left Budha;

whom do you now intend to join? Thariputra full of the most affectionate feelings towards the people, mildly desired them not to accompany him further, and he added a few last words enjoining upon them ever to remember Budha and the Rahans. During seven days that his journey lasted Thariputra never ceased to praise and exalt the affection and kindness the people bore unto him.

It was dark when the great Rahan arrived at the entrance of the Nalaka village. He went to rest at the foot of a banyan tree, close to that spot. At that time there came a young man, his nephew, named Ooparewata, who perceiving Thariputra bowed down before him and stood in that place. The great Rahan said to him, is your grandmother at home? Having been answered in the affirmative, he continued, addressing him: go now to her, and tell her to prepare for me the room wherein I was born, and a place for these five hundred Rahans that accompany me. I will stay the whole day in the village, and will go to her house but this evening. The lad went in all haste to his grandmother's house and said to her: my uncle is come and is staying at the entrance of the village. Is he alone, inquired the grandmother, or has he with him a numerous retinue, for what purpose is he coming here? The young man related to her all the particulars of his interview with his uncle. Noopathari, the mother of Thariputra, thought within herself, perhaps my son who has been a Rahan from his youth, desires in his old age to leave his profession. She however gave orders to have the desired room cleaned, and a place prepared for all his attendants.

In the evening, the great disciple went to his mother's with all his followers. He ascended to the room prepared for him, and rested therein. He bade all the Rahans to withdraw and leave him alone. They had scarcely departed when a most violent disease seized Thariputra which caused an abundant vomiting of blood, so great indeed, that the vessel wherein it flowed could not hold it. His mother at the sight of such an awful distemper, did not dare to approach, but with a broken heart, retired into her own room leaning against the door. At that time four great Nats, a Thagia their chief, and four Brahmas came to see him and to minister unto him during his painful illness, but he bade

them to retire. His mother seeing the coming in and going out of so many distinguished visitors, and the respect they paid to her son, drew near to the door of his room and calling the faithful Sangda, inquired from him wherefore so many distinguished individuals had come. Sangda explained to her that the great Nats, the chief Thagia and Brahmas had come to visit and assist her son and enjoy the presence of the great Rahan. Meanwhile he informed the patient that his mother wished to see him. Thariputra replied that the moment was not a proper one, and he asked from his mother the motive of her untimely visit. Beloved son, said she, I am come here to contemplate your ever dear countenance. But who are they those that have just come to see you. Thariputra explained to her how he had been visited by Nats, Thagias and Brahmas. His mother inquiring from him if he were greater than any one of these, he unhesitatingly replied that he was more excellent than any of them. His mother thought within herself, if my son be so exalted how much more must Budha be. Her heart then overflowed with the purest joy.

Thariputra rightly understood that the moment had come to preach the law to his mother. He said to her: Woman, at the time my great teacher was born, when he obtained the supreme intelligence, and preached the most excellent law, a great earthquake was felt throughout ten thousand worlds. No one has ever equalled him in the practice of virtue, in understanding, wisdom and in the knowledge of, and the affection for, the transcendent excellencies of the state of Arahat. He then went on explaining to her the law and many particulars relating to the person of Budha. Beloved son, said his mother, delighted with all that she heard, why have you been so late in acquainting me with such a perfect law? At the conclusion of the instruction, she attained the taste of Tautapan. Thariputra replied: Now, woman, I have repaid you for all the labors you have bestowed on me in bearing, nursing and educating me, now depart from me and leave me alone.

Thariputra inquired from the devoted Sangda whether the moment had come. Having been informed that it was day light, he requested to be set up. By his order all the Rahans were call

ed to his presence, and he said to them :-during the last forty four years, you have ever been with me, should I have offended any one during all that time, I beg to be pardoned. The Rahans answered him :-great teacher, we have lived with you during the last forty four years, and have been your inseparable attendants, following you everywhere, as the shadow follows the body. We have never experienced the least dissatisfaction, but we have to request your forbearance and pardon for ourselves.

It was on the evening of the full moon of the month Tatsaongmon (November) that Thariputra went to his mother's place, and laid in the room wherein he had been born. During the night he was attacked with the most distressing distemper. In the morning at daylight, he was habited with his Hiwaran and made to lay on his right side. He entered into a sort of ecstacy, passed successively from the first state of Dzan to the second, third and fourth, and thence dived into the bottomless state of Niban which is the complete exemption from the influence of passions and

matter.

Noopathari bathed in her tears, gave full vent to her grief and desolation: alas! exclaimed she, looking on the lifeless body, is this my beloved son? His mouth can no more utter a sound. Rising up, she flung herself at his feet and with a voice ever interrupted by sobs and lamentations, she said: alas, beloved son, it is too late that I have known the treasure of perfections and excellencies that was in you. Had I been aware of it, I would have invited to my house more than ten thousand Rahans, fed them and made a present of three suits of dress to each of them. I would have built a hundred monasteries to receive them. The day 88 having dawned, she sent for the most skilful goldsmiths, opened her chests and gave them a great quantity of gold. By her command, five hundred piat hats and as many Dzedis were erected: the outward sides were all covered with gold leaves. The great Thagia sent down on the spot a number of Nats who erected also the same number of religious monuments. In the middle of the city, a high square tower vas erected, from its centre a tall spire rose to an immense height. This principal one was surrounded by a great number of smaller ones. Men and Nats mingled together uniting in their endeavours to do honor to