ABSTRACT
1. In days of old there were five hundred merchants, who, after a voyage on the deep, were returning to their homes, when in traversing certain deep and dangerous passes the evil spirits so bewildered them that, being unable to find their way out, they at last were exhausted from want of food and lay down and died, leaving their treasures scattered about the mountains. At this time a certain Shaman, who was practising austerities in that neighbourhood, seeing the valuables lying about, thought thus with himself—“I have been exercising myself in self-denial for these seven years past, and have failed to reach my aim. I will take these valuables and go home again.” Then Buddha, recognising the condition of this Shaman, and knowing that he would arrive at deliverance, caused the appearance of a Bhikshunî, with a head-dress adorned with jewels. On seeing her, the Shaman was astonished, and said, “How is it that you, a Bhikshunî, are thus adorned?” To which she replied, “But how is it that you, a Shaman, are also in possession of wealth and jewels, which are forbidden to one of your calling?”—and then she added these lines, and said :
“A Bhikshu diligently adheres to the rules (of his calling). A man who is careless and negligent in these, accumulates much sorrow. He who carefully attends to little matters, arrives at great results ; he who accumulates evil actions must enter the fiery pit. But guarding the precepts, then one’s happiness increases, and the gladness consequent upon it, as the contrary neglect of them leads to remorse and bitterness of heart. The Bhikshu who is able to get rid of all remnants of worldly attachment (the three worlds), this one is verily near to Nirvâna.”
