Mahavogga 1.15

Tipitaka >> Vinaya Pitaka >> Khandhaka >> Mahavagga >> First Khandaka >> 1.15

Translated from the Pâli by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg (1881)

1. And the Blessed One, wandering from place to place, came to Uruvelâ. At that time there lived in Uruvelâ three Gatilas, Uruvelâ Kassapa, Nadî Kassapa (Kassapa of the River, i.e. the Nerañgarâ), and Gayâ Kassapa (Kassapa of the village Gayâ.). Of these the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa was chief, leader, foremost, first, and highest over five hundred Gatilas; Nadî Kassapa was chief. . . . (&c., down to highest over) three hundred Gatilas, Gayâ Kassapa was chief (&c., down to highest over) two hundred Gatilas.

2. And the Blessed One went to the hermitage of the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa; having gone there, he said to the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa: 'If it is not disagreeable to you, Kassapa, let me spend one night in the room where your (sacred) fire is kept.'

'It is not disagreeable to me, great Samana, but there is a savage Nâga (or Serpent) king of great magical power, a dreadfully venomous serpent; let him do no harm to you.'

And a second time the Blessed One said to the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa: 'If it is not disagreeable,' &c. . . ..

'It is not disagreeable,' &c.

And a third time the Blessed One said: 'If it not disagreeable,' &c. . . ..

'It is not disagreeable,' &c. . . ..

'He is not likely to do any harm to me. Pray, Kassapa, allow me a place in the room where your fire is kept.'

'Stay there, great Samana, as you wish it.'

3. Then the Blessed One entered the room where the fire was kept, made himself a couch of grass, and sat down cross-legged, keeping the body erect and surrounding himself with watchfulness of mind. And the Nâga saw that the Blessed One had entered; when he saw that, he became annoyed, and irritated, and sent forth a cloud of smoke. Then the Blessed One thought: 'What if I were to leave intact the skin, and hide, and flesh, and ligaments, and bones, and marrow of this Nâga; but were to conquer the fire, which he will send forth, by my fire.'

4. And the Blessed One effected the appropriate exercise of miraculous power and sent forth a cloud of smoke. Then the Nâga, who could not master his rage, sent forth flames. And the Blessed One, converting his body into fire, sent forth flames. When they both shone forth with their flames, the fire room looked as if it were burning and blazing, as if it were all in flames. And the Gatilas, surrounding the fire room, said: 'Truly, the countenance of the great Samana is beautiful, but the Nâga will do harm to him.'

5. That night having elapsed, the Blessed One, leaving intact the skin and hide and flesh and ligaments and bones and marrow of that Nâga, and conquering the Nâga's fire by his fire, threw him into his alms-bowl, and showed him to the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa (saying), 'Here you see the Nâga, Kassapa; his fire has been conquered by my fire.' Then the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa thought: 'Truly the great Samana possesses high magical powers and great faculties, in that he is able to conquer by his fire the fire of that savage Nâga king, who is possessed of magical power, that dreadfully venomous serpent. He is not, however, holy (arahâ) as I am.'

6. Near the Nerañgarâ river the Blessed One said to the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa: 'If it is not disagreeable to you, Kassapa, let me dwell this moonlight night in your fire room.'

'It is not disagreeable to me, great Samana, but in your own behalf I warn you off. There is a savage Snake king there possessed of magical power, a dreadfully venomous serpent; let him do no harm to you.'

'He is not likely to do any harm to me; pray, Kassapa, allow me a place in your fire room.'

When he saw that Kassapa had given his permission, fearlessly He, who had overcome all fear, entered. When the chief of Serpents saw that the Sage had entered, he became irritated, and sent forth a cloud of smoke. Then the chief of men, joyful and unperplexed, also sent forth a cloud of smoke. Unable to master his rage, the chief of Serpents sent forth flames like a burning fire. Then the chief of men, the perfect master of the element of fire, also sent forth flames. When they shone forth both with their flames, the Gatilas looked at the fire room (saying), 'Truly the countenance of the great Samana is beautiful, but the Nâga will do harm to him.'

7. And when that night had elapsed, the flames of the Nâga were extinguished, but the various-coloured flames of Him who is possessed of magical powers remained. Dark blue and red, light red, yellow, and crystal-coloured flames of various colours appeared on the Angirasa's body. Having put the chief of Serpents into his alms-bowl, he showed him to the Brâhmana (saying), 'Here you see the Nâga, Kassapa; his fire has been conquered by my fire.'

And the Gatila Uruvelâ Kassapa, having conceived an affection for the Blessed One in consequence of this wonder, said to the Blessed One: 'Stay with me, great Samana, I will daily provide you with food.'

End of the first Wonder.