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Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 8:23 am
by mikenz66
Verse 5.

Katvāna kaṭṭham-udaraṃ iva gabbhinīyā
Ciñcāya duṭṭha-vacanaṃ jana-kāya-majjhe
Santena soma-vidhinā jitavā munindo
Tan-tejasā bhavatu te jaya-maṅgalāni.


Having made a wooden belly to appear pregnant,
Ciñca made a lewd accusation in the midst of the gathering.
The Lord of Sages defeated her with peaceful, gracious means:
By the power of this, may you have victory blessings.

Image

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:49 pm
by mikenz66
Ciñcā-mānavikā
http://www.aimwell.org/DPPN/cincaa_maanavikaa.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A paribbājikā of some ascetic Order. When the heretics of this Order found that their gains were grown less owing to the popularity of the Buddha, they enlisted the support of Ciñcā in their attempts to discredit him. She was very beautiful and full of cunning, and they persuaded her to pretend to pay visits to the Buddha at Jetavana. She let herself be seen going towards the vihāra in the evening, spent the night in the heretics' quarters near by, and in the morning men saw her returning from the direction of the vihāra. When questioned, she said that she had passed the night with the Buddha. After some months she simulated pregnancy by tying a disc of wood round her body and appearing thus before the Buddha, as he preached to a vast congregation, she charged him with irresponsibility and callousness in that he made no provision for her confinement. The Buddha remained silent, but Sakka’s throne was heated and he caused a mouse to sever the cords of the wooden disc, which fell to the ground, cutting Ciñcā’s toes. She was chased out of the vihāra by those present, and as she stepped outside the gate the fires of the lowest hell swallowed her up (DhA.iii.178f; J.iv.187f; ItA.69).

In a previous birth, too, she had helped in various ways to harm the Bodhisatta. For details see:

Culla-Paduma Jātaka (No.193)

Mahā-Paduma Jātaka (No.472)

Bandhana-mokkha Jātaka (No.120)

Vānarinda Jātaka (No.57)

Vessantara Jātaka (No.547)

Sumsumāra Jātaka (No.208)

Suvannakakkata Jātaka (No. 389)

It is stated (Ap.i.299; UdA.263f) that the Buddha was subjected to the ignominy of being charged by Ciñcā with incontinence, because in a previous birth he had reviled a Pacceka Buddha. v.l. Ciñcī; cp. Sundarī.

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:58 pm
by mikenz66
For Sundarī see Udana 4.8
http://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/E ... ggo-08.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

3. Sundarī, Sundarikā
http://www.aimwell.org/DPPN/sundarii.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

She listened to the persuasions of her colleagues, the heretics, and would be seen in the evenings going towards Jetavana with garlands, perfumes, fruits, etc. When asked where she was going, she would reply that she was going to spend the night in the Buddha’s cell. She would then spend it in a neighbouring monastery of the Paribbājakas and be seen again early in the morning coming from the direction of Jetavana. After some days, the heretics hired some villains to kill Sundarī and hide her body under a heap of rubbish near Jetavana. Then they raised a hue and cry and reported to the king that Sundarī was missing. A search was made, and her body was found near the Gandhakuti of the Buddha. Placing the body on a litter, they went about the streets of the city crying: “Behold the deeds of the Sākyan monks!” As a result, the monks were subjected to great insults in the streets. For seven days the Buddha stayed in the Gandhakuti, not going to the city for alms, and Ānanda even suggested that they should go to another city.

But the Buddha pointed out to him the absurdity of running away from a false report, and said that in seven days the truth would be known. The king employed spies, who found the murderers quarrelling among themselves after strong drink. They were seized and brought before the king, where they confessed their crime. The king sent for the heretics and compelled them to retract their accusations against the Buddha and his monks and to confess their own wickedness. They were then punished for murder. Ud.iv.8; UdA.256ff.; DhA.iii.474f.; SNA.ii.528f.; J.ii.415f

It is said (Ap.i.299; UdA.263) that once the Bodhisatta was a pleasure seeker named Munāli. One day he saw Surabhi, a Pacceka Buddha, putting on his outer robe just outside the city. Near by a woman was walking, and Munāli said in jest, “Look, this recluse is no celibate, but a rake.” It was this utterance of the Bodhisatta that brought to the Buddha, as retribution, the disgrace in connection with Sundarī.

The Dutthaka Sutta and the Manisūkara Jātaka were preached in this connection.

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 8:06 pm
by mikenz66
I'm not entirely sure about:
Santena soma-vidhinā
Thanissaro Bhikkhu translates it as:
"peaceful, gracious means"
My chanting book says:
"calm and gentleness".

Soma has to to with "mental ease", "happiness", "joy". http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philol ... 1:535.pali" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can any Pali experts help?

:anjali:
Mike

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:13 am
by mikenz66
Verse 6.

Saccaṃ vihāya mati-saccaka-vāda-ketuṃ
Vādābhiropita-manaṃ ati-andhabhūtaṃ
Paññā-padīpa-jalito jitavā munindo
Tan-tejasā bhavatu te jaya-maṅgalāni.


Saccaka, whose provocative views had abandoned the truth,
Delighting in argument, had become thoroughly blind.
The Lord of Sages defeated him with the light of discernment:
By the power of this, may you have victory blessings.

Image

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:46 pm
by mikenz66
Saccaka
http://www.aimwell.org/DPPN/saccaka.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Nigantha who had two interviews with the Buddha, as recorded in the Cūla Saccaka Sutta and Mahā Saccaka Sutta. He is addressed as Aggivessana, that being his gotta name (the Agnivesyāyanas).

MN 35 Cula-Saccaka Sutta: The Shorter Discourse to Saccaka
http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pit ... ta-e1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
MN 36 Maha-Saccaka Sutta: The Longer Discourse to Saccaka
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Buddhaghosa says (MA.i.450; cf. J.iii.1, where Sivāvatikā is called Avavādakā) that both his parents were Niganthas, skilled debaters, who married at the suggestion of the Licchavis, because they were unable to defeat each other in argument. The Licchavis provided for their maintenance. Four daughters were born to them: Saccā, Lolā, Patācārā and Sivāvatikā. These engaged in a discussion with Sāriputta, and were defeated by him. Having then entered the Order, they became arahants. Saccaka was their brother and was the youngest of them. He was a teacher of the Licchavis and lived at Vesāli.

When Saccaka was defeated by the Buddha as stated in the Cūla-Saccaka Sutta, one of the Licchavis, Dummukha, compared him to a crab in a pool, its claws being smashed one after the other and unable to return to the pool. Saccaka, owned defeat, and begged the Buddha to take a meal at his house. The Buddha agreed, and Saccaka became his follower (M.i.234f).

It is said (MA.i.469f) that, in a later birth, long after the Buddha’s death, Saccaka was born in Ceylon as the Thera Kāla Buddharakkhita and attained arahantship.

Saccaka, is identified with Senaka of the Mahā Ummagga Jātaka. J.vi.478.

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:51 pm
by mikenz66
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Bud ... 3%B1%C4%81" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Paññā: 'understanding, knowledge, understanding, insight', comprises a very wide field. The specific Buddhist knowledge or understanding, however, as part of the Noble 8-fold path magga to deliverance, is insight vipassanā, i.e. that intuitive knowledge which brings about the 4 stages of Nobility and the realization of Nibbāna see: ariya-puggala and which consists in the penetration of the impermanency anicca, misery dukkha see: sacca and impersonality anattā of all forms of existence. Further details, see: under tilakkhana.

With regard to the condition of its arising one distinguishes 3 kinds of knowledge knowledge based on thinking cintā-mayā-paññā knowledge based on learning suta-mayā-paññā knowledge based on mental development bhāvanā -mayā-paññā D. 33.

'Based on thinking' is that knowledge which one has accquired through one's own thinking, without having learnt it from others. 'Based on learning' is that knowledge which one has heard from others and thus acquired through learning. 'Based on mental development' is that knowledge which one has acquired through mental development in this or that way, and which has reached the stage of full concentration; appanā Vis.M XIV.

Wisdom is one of the 5 mental abilities see: bala one of the 3 kinds of training sikkhā, and one of the perfections see: pāramī For further details, see: vipassanā and the detailed exposition in Vis.M XIV, 1-32.
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philol ... :1539.pali" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Padīpa

Padīpa [cp. Epic Sk. pradīpa] 1. a light Dh 146; Vv 462 (jalati blazes); Tikp 14; Miln 40; VvA 51 (padīpaŋ ujjāletvā lighting a lamp, making a light); PvA 38; Sdhp 250. -- 2. a lamp Sn 235 (nibbanti dhīrā yath' âyaŋ p.); DhA ii.163 (anupādāno viya p.). ˚ŋ karoti to make a light, to light up Vin i.118; ˚ŋ ujjāleti see under 1. Usually as tela -- padīpa an oil lamp Vin i.15; S ii.86 (telañ ca vaṭṭiñ ca telapadīpo jhāyati)=iv.213; v.319; A i.137; VvA 198. -- appadīpa where there is no light, obscure Vin iv.268.
-- kāla lighting time Vv 96.
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philol ... :1726.pali" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Jalita

Jalita (adj.) [pp. to jalati] set on fire, burning, shining, bright, splendid Sn 396, 668, 686; Vv 216 (=jalanto jotanto VvA 107); Pv i.1014 (burning floor of Niraya); ii.112 (˚ânubhāva: shining majesty); PvA 41 (=āditta burning); ThA 292.

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:57 am
by mikenz66
It's perhaps worth pointing out that the suttas with Saccaka involve deep and important Dhamma. And the same could be said about the suttas referenced in several other verses. This gatha is not just "The Buddha's greatest show tricks". :juggling:

:anjali:
Mike

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:01 am
by mikenz66
Verse 7.

Nandopananda-bhujagaṃ vibudhaṃ mahiddhiṃ
Puttena thera-bhujagena damāpayanto
Iddhūpadesa-vidhinā jitavā munindo
Tan-tejasā bhavatu te jaya-maṅgalān
i.

Nandopananda was a serpent with great power but wrong views.
The Lord of Sages defeated him by means of a display of marvels,
sending his son (Moggallana), the serpent-elder, to tame him:
By the power of this, may you have victory blessings.

Image

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 8:10 pm
by mikenz66
1. Nandopananda

http://www.palikanon.com/namen/n/nandopananda.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Nāga king, tamed by Moggallāna. The Buddha and five hundred monks, on their way to Tāvatimsa one morning, travelled over the Nāga king's abode as he was having a meal. In anger, the Nāga coiled round Sineru and covered the road to Tāvatimsa..

Thereupon several members of the Buddha's retinue, including Ratthapāla, Bhaddiya and Rāhula, offered to quell the Nāga's power, but the Buddha would not agree until Moggallāna sought permission to do so. It is said that no other monk had the power to face all the dangers created by the Naga and remain unscathed. Moggallanā and Nandopananda vied with one another in the exhibition of their iddhi power, and, in the end, Nandopananda had to acknowledge defeat. He was thereupon conducted to the Buddha, whose follower he became. When Anāthapindika heard of Moggallana's victory, he celebrated it by holding a great alms festival, lasting for seven days, for the Buddha and his monks. ThagA.ii.188f.; J.v.126.

In the Divyāvadāna (p.395) Nanda and Upananda are spoken of as two Nāga kings.

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 8:18 pm
by mikenz66
Here is the story from the Vissudhimagga, starting at XI. 105, which starts as a question, so you might want to read the previous sections from the PDF here:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

105. Here the Elder Tipiþaka Cú¿a-Nága said: “But, friends, why does what is
clung to not become small and big too? When a bhikkhu comes out through a
keyhole, does not what is clung to become small? And when he makes his body
big, does it not then become big, as in the case of the Elder Mahá Moggallána?”

106. At one time, it seems, when the householder Anáthapióðika had heard
the Blessed One preaching the Dhamma, he invited him thus, Venerable sir, take
alms at our house together with five hundred bhikkhus,” and then he departed.
The Blessed One consented. When the rest of that day and part of the night had
passed, he surveyed the ten-thousandfold world element in the early morning.
Then the royal nága (serpent) called Nandopananda came within the range of
his knowledge.

107. The Blessed One considered him thus: “This royal nága has come into
the range of my knowledge. Has he the potentiality for development?” Then he
saw that he had wrong view and no confidence in the Three Jewels. [399] He
considered thus, “Who is there that can cure him of his wrong view?” He saw
that the Elder Mahá Moggallána could. Then when the night had turned to
dawn, after he had seen to the needs of the body, he addressed the venerable
Ánanda: “Ánanda, tell five hundred bhikkhus that the Perfect One is going on
a visit to the gods.”

108. It was on that day that they had got a banqueting place ready for
Nandopananda. He was sitting on a divine couch with a divine white parasol
held aloft, surrounded by the three kinds of dancers[18] and a retinue of nágas,
and surveying the various kinds of food and drink served up in divine vessels.
Then the Blessed One so acted that the royal nága saw him as he proceeded
directly above his canopy in the direction of the divine world of the Thirty-three,
accompanied by the five hundred bhikkhus.

109. Then this evil view arose in Nandopananda the royal nága: “There go
these bald-headed monks in and out of the realm of the Thirty-three directly over
my realm. I will not have them scattering the dirt off their feet on our heads.” He
got up, and he went to the foot of Sineru. Changing his form, he surrounded it
seven times with his coils. Then he spread his hood over the realm of the Thirty-
three and made everything there invisible.

110. The venerable Raþþhapála said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, standing
in this place formerly I used to see Sineru and the ramparts of Sineru,[19] and the
Thirty-three, and the Vejayanta Palace, and the flag over the Vejayanta Palace.
Venerable sir, what is the cause, what is the reason, why I now see neither Sineru
nor ... the flag over the Vejayanta Palace?”—“This royal nága called
Nandopananda is angry with us, Raþþhapála. He has surrounded Sineru seven
times with his coils, and he stands there covering us with his raised hood,
making it dark.”—“I will tame him, venerable sir.” But the Blessed One would
not allow it. Then the venerable Bhaddiya and the venerable Ráhula and all the
bhikkhus in turn offered to do so, but the Blessed One would not allow it.

111. Last of all the venerable Mahá Moggallána said, “I will tame him, venerable
sir.” The Blessed One allowed it, saying, “Tame him, Moggallána.” The elder
abandoned that form and assumed the form of a huge royal nága, and he
surrounded Nandopananda fourteen times with his coils and raised his hood
above the other’s hood, and he squeezed him against Sineru. The royal nága
produced smoke. The elder said, “There is smoke not only in your body but
also in mine,” and he produced smoke. The royal nága’s smoke did not distress
the elder, but the elder’s smoke distressed the royal nága. Then the royal nága
produced flames. The elder said, “There is fire not only in your body but also in
mine,” and he produced flames. The royal nága’s fire did not distress the elder,
but the elder’s fire distressed the royal nága.

112. The royal nága thought, “He has squeezed me against Sineru, and he has
produced both smoke and flames.” Then he asked, “Sir, who are you?”—“I am
Moggallána, Nanda.”—“Venerable sir, resume your proper bhikkhu’s state.” The
elder abandoned that form, and he went into his right ear and came out from his left
ear; then he went into his left ear and came out from his right ear. Likewise he went
into his right nostril and came out from his left nostril; then he went into his left
nostril and came out from his right nostril. Then the royal nága opened his mouth.
The elder went inside it, and he walked up and down, east and west, inside his belly.


113. The Blessed One said, “Moggallána, Moggallána, beware; this is a
mighty nága.” The elder said, “Venerable sir, the four roads to power have been
developed by me, repeatedly practiced, made the vehicle, made the basis,
established, consolidated, and properly undertaken. I can tame not only
Nandopananda, venerable sir, but a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand
royal nágas like Nandopananda.”

114. The royal nága thought, “When he went in the first place I did not see
him. But now when he comes out I shall catch him between my fangs and chew
him up.” Then he said, “Venerable sir, come out. Do not keep troubling me by
walking up and down inside my belly.” The elder came out and stood outside.
The royal nága recognized him, and blew a blast from his nose. The elder attained
the fourth jhána, and the blast failed to move even a single hair on his body. The
other bhikkhus would, it seems, have been able to perform all the miracles up to
now, but at this point they could not have attained with so rapid a response,
which is why the Blessed One would not allow them to tame the royal nága.

115. The royal nága thought, “I have been unable to move even a single hair on
this monk’s body with the blast from my nose. He is a mighty monk.” The elder
abandoned that form, and having assumed the form of a supaóóa, he pursued the
royal nága demonstrating the supaóóa’s blast. [401] The royal nága abandoned
that form, and having assumed the form of a young brahman, he said, “Venerable
sir, I go for refuge to you,” and he paid homage at the elder’s feet. The elder said,
“The Master has come, Nanda; come, let us go to him.” So having tamed the royal
nága and deprived him of his poison, he went with him to the Blessed One’s presence.

116. The royal nága paid homage to the Blessed One and said, “Venerable sir,
I go for refuge to you.” The Blessed One said, “May you be happy, royal nága.”
Then he went, followed by the Community of Bhikkhus, to Anáthapióðika’s
house. Anáthapióðika said, “Venerable sir, why have you come so late?”—“There
was a battle between Moggallána and Nandopananda.”—“Who won, venerable
sir? Who was defeated?”—“Moggallána won; Nanda was defeated.”
Anáthapióðika said, “Venerable sir, let the Blessed One consent to my providing
meals for seven days in a single series, and to my honouring the elder for seven
days.” Then for seven days he accorded great honour to the five hundred
bhikkhus with the Enlightened One at their head.

117. So it was with reference to this enlarged form created during this taming
of Nandopananda that it was said: “When he makes his body big, does it not
then become big, as in the case of the Elder Mahá Moggallána?” (§105). Although
this was said, the bhikkhus observed, “He enlarges only what is not clung to
supported by what is clung to.” And only this is correct here.[20]


Footnotes:

18. Vism-mhþ (p.394): “Vadhúkumárikaññá-vattháhi tividháhi náþakitthìhi.”

19. “‘The ramparts of Sineru’: the girdle of Sineru. There are, it seems, four ramparts
that encircle Sineru, measuring 5,000 leagues in breadth and width. They were built to
protect the realm of the Thirty-three against nágas, garudas, kumbhaóðas and yakkhas.
They enclose half of Sineru, it seems” (Vism-mhþ 394).

20. “Only this is correct because instances of clung-to (kammically acquired) materiality
do not arise owing to consciousness or to temperature. Or alternatively, ‘clung-to’ is
intended as all matter that is bound up with faculties (i.e. ‘sentient’), too. And so to
take it as enlargement of that is likewise not correct. Consequently, enlargement
should be understood only in the way stated. Though the clung-to and the unclung-to
occur, as it were, mixed up in a single continuity, they are nevertheless not mixed up in
meaning. Herein, just as when a pint measure (á¿haka) of milk is poured into a number
of pints of water, though the milk becomes completely mixed up with the water, and is
present appreciably in all, it is nevertheless not the milk that has increased there, but
only the water. And so too, although the clung-to and unclung-to occur mixed up
together, it is nevertheless not the clung-to that is enlarged. It should be taken that it
is the consciousness-born matter that is enlarged by the influence of the supernormal
power, and the temperature-born is enlarged pari passu” (Vism-mhþ 395).

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 8:20 pm
by mikenz66
Iddhi: 'power', 'magical power', were already mentioned above:
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 33#p171488" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:anjali:
Mike

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 8:24 pm
by mikenz66
Another image: http://phramick.wordpress.com/2009/07/2 ... he-buddha/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:17 pm
by mikenz66
Verse 8.

Duggāha-diṭṭhi-bhujagena sudaṭṭha-hatthaṃ
Brahmaṃ visuddhi-jutim-iddhi-bakābhidhānaṃ
Ñāṇāgadena vidhinā jitavā munindo
Tan-tejasā bhavatu te jaya-maṅgalāni.


His hands bound tight by the serpent of wrongly held views,
Baka, the Brahma, thought himself pure in his radiance & power.
The Lord of Sages defeated him by means of his words of knowledge:
By the power of this, may you have victory blessings.

Image

Re: Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:50 am
by mikenz66
Baka
http://www.aimwell.org/DPPN/baka.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Brahmā. When the Buddha was once staying at Ukkatthā in the Subhagavana, he read the thoughts of Baka, who had conceived the idea that this world was permanent and free from decay and death; and the Buddha visited him in order to point out his error.

Baka welcomed the Buddha but, owing to the influence of Māra, refused to acknowledge his error, until the Buddha, by the exercise of his magical power, prevented Baka from disappearing from sight, while he himself dissolved into complete darkness. The Buddha then proceeded to tell him of four incidents connected with his previous birth as Kesava (M.i.326ff.; S.i.142ff).

Baka was once born in a noble family, but he renounced the world and became an ascetic named Kesava. One day, seeing a caravan in distress in the desert, by his supernatural power he turned a river into the desert, thereby rescuing the members of the caravan. On another occasion, while staying on the banks of the river Enī, near a frontier village, he found the village being attacked by dacoits, whom he drove away by causing them to see a vision of the royal police approaching, with himself at their head. On another day he saw people floating down the river in boats, making merry, singing and drinking. The Nāga of the river, incensed at their behaviour, appeared before them, threatening destruction. Kesava, assuming the form of a Garuda, frightened the Nāga away. The fourth incident is related in the Kesava Jātaka. The Bodhisatta, known as Kappa, was the pupil of Kesava. Kesava, practising meditation, developed the fourth jhāna and was born in the Vehapphala world. While there he developed the third jhāna and was born in the Subhakinha world. Thence he descended to the Abhassara world, and, later, by practising the first jhāna, he was reborn in the same world, but with a span of life of only a single kappa (J.iii.358 ff.; SA.i.164 f.; MA.i.553 ff).


Bakabrahma Sutta

Relates the story of the Buddha’s visit to Baka and the conversation between Baka and the Buddha on that occasion. The incidents of Baka’s previous life are referred to but without detail (S.i.142 f). Cp. Brahmanimantika Sutta.

This sutta cannot be identical with the Bakabrahma Sutta mentioned in Theragāthā Commentary and quoted there in full (ii. 185 f). It is stated there that once when the Buddha was at Jetavana a certain Brahmā conceived the view that no monk or recluse could come to his world. The Buddha, aware of this, went to the Brahma world and stood in the air enveloped in flame.

He was followed by Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina and Anuruddha. Moggallāna asked the Brahmā if he still held the same view, to which he replied that he no longer thought that he was eternal. (This shows that the Brahmā of the story was most probably Baka.)

When the Buddha and his followers had departed, the Brahmā sent one of his retinue to Moggallāna to find out if there were other disciples of the Buddha as mighty as he. Moggallāna’s answer was that there were many such (the sutta is given at S.i.144 ff., but there the name given is “Aparāditthi” Sutta).