Mahavogga 6.20

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Adapted from the Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg

MAHAVAGGA

SIXTH KHANDHAKA(ON MEDICAMENTS)

Chapter-20.

1. Now the Lord Buddha having remained at Rajagaha as long as he thought fit, proceeded on his way to Savatthi. And wandering straight on from place to place he arrived at Savatthi. And there, at Savatthi, the Lord Buddha stayed at the Jetavana, Anatha-pindika's Grove.

Now at that time the venerable Sariputta suffered from fever. And the venerable Maha Moggallana went to the place where the venerable Sariputta was; and when he had come there he said to the venerable Sariputta:

You have lately had fever, friend Sariputta. By what means has it got well?'

'By lotus stalks, my friend, of various kinds.'

Then the venerable Maha Moggallana, as quickly as a strong man would stretch forth his arm, or draw it in again when it had been stretched forth, vanished from the Jetavana and appeared on the bank of the Mandakini lake.

2. And a certain Naga saw the venerable Maha

Moggallana coming from afar: and on seeing him he said to the venerable Maha Moggallana:

'May my lord, the venerable Maha Moggallana, approach. Welcome to my lord, the venerable Maha Moggallana. What may my lord have need of? What shall I give to him?'

'I want the edible stalks of the various lotuses.'

Then that Naga gave command to another Naga, saying, 'Very well then, good friend, give the venerable one edible stalks of the lotuses.'

And that Naga plunged into the Mandakini lake, and plucked with his trunk edible stalks of the lotuses, and washed them thoroughly, and bound them in a bundle, and went to the place where the venerable Maha Moggallana was.

3. Then the venerable Maha Moggallana as quickly (&c., as in §-1) vanished from the bank of the Mandakini lake, and appeared in Jetavana. Then that Naga also vanished from the bank of the Mandakini lake, and appeared in the Jetavana. And when that Naga had caused the venerable Maha Moggallana to receive those edible stalks of the lotuses he vanished from the Jetavana, and appeared on the shore of the Mandakini lake.

Then the venerable Maha Moggallana presented those edible stalks of the lotuses to the venerable Sariputta. And the fever abated on the venerable Sariputta when he had eaten the edible stalks of the lotuses. And many of them remained over.

4. Now at that time, during the scarcity (&c., as above, in Chap-18., down to:) did not accept the invitation.

'Accept it, O Bhikkhus(Monks), and eat. I allow a Bhikkhu who has eaten, and has refused food still

offered, to eat things growing in woods and ponds even if they are not the leavings of the meal of one who has eaten.'