Buddhaghosa. Buddhist legends (v. 1)

(Cambridge, Mass. :  Harvard University Press,  c1921.)

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-N.I.26314]                              Two Brethren                                        313

together with the Supernatural Faculties.   The other monk, however,
spent his time in utter heedlessness.

When the two monks had completed residence, they went to the
Teacher, paid obeisance to him, and sat down respectfully on one side.
The Teacher exchanged friendly greetings with them and queried,
"I trust that you have lived the life of heedfulness and that you have
devoted yourselves earnestly to the practice of meditation. I trust
that you have reached the goal of the Religious Life." The heedless
monk replied, "Reverend Sir, how can this monk be said to be heedful?
From the time he left you he has done nothing but lie and sleep."
"But you, monk?" "I, Reverend Sir, betimes in the morning
brought firewood and prepared the charcoal-dish, and during the first
watch I sat and warmed myself, but I did not spend my time sleeping."
Then said the Teacher to the slothful monk, "You who have spent your
time in heedlessness say, 'I am heedful.' You mistake heedlessness
for heedfulness. [262] Compared with my son, you are like a decrepit
hack; but he, compared with you, is like a racer." So saying, he
pronounced the following Stanza,

29. Heedful among the heedless, watchful among the sleeping.
Even as a racer outstrips a hack, even so goes a wise man.
 

II. 7. HOW MAGHA BECAME SAKKA ^

By heedfulness Maghavd attained leadership of the gods. This
religious instruction was given by the Teacher while in residence at a
summer-house near Vesali with reference to Sakka king of gods.   [263]

7 a.  Story of the Present: Mahali's question

For a Licchavi prince named Mahali, who lived at Vesali, hearing
the Teacher recite the Suttanta entitled Sakka's Question, thought
to himself, "The Supremely Enlightened has described the great
glory of Sakka. Has the Teacher seen Sakka? or has he not seen
Sakka? Is the Teacher acquainted with Sakka? or is he not ac¬
quainted with Saldka? I will ask him." So the Licchavi prince
Mahali drew near to where the Exalted One was, and having drawn
near, saluted the Exalted One and sat down on one side.   And having

^ 7 a is almost word for word the same as Samyutta, xi. 2. 3: i. 230-231. 7 b is a
free version of Jdtaka 31: i. 198-206.    Text: N i. 263-281.
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