he thought at once of Arada Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra, as being fit to accept the righteous law; but now they both were dead.  Then next he thought of the five men, that they were fit to hear the first sermon.  Bent then on this design to preach Nirvana, as the sun’s glory bursts through the darkness, so went he on towards Benares, the place where dwelt the ancient Rishis.  With eyes as gentle as the ox king’s, his pace as firm and even as the lion’s, because he would convert the world he went on towards the Kasi city.  Step by step, like the king of beasts, did he advance watchfully through the grove of wisdom.

Turning the Law-wheel

Tathagata piously composed and silent, radiant with glory, shedding light around, with unmatched dignity advanced alone, as if surrounded by a crowd of followers.  Beside the way he encountered a young Brahman whose name was Upaka; struck with the deportment of the Bhikshu, he stood with reverent mien on the roadside.  Joyously he gazed at such an unprecedented sight, and then, with closed hands, he spake as follows:—­“The crowds who live around are stained with sin, without a pleasing feature, void of grace, and the great world’s heart is everywhere disturbed; but you alone, your senses all composed, with visage shining as the moon when full, seem to have quaffed the water of the immortals’ stream.  The marks of beauty yours, as the great man’s, the strength of wisdom, as an all-sufficient, independent king’s; what you have done must have been wisely done:  what then your noble tribe and who your master?” Answering he said, “I have no master; no honorable tribe; no point of excellence; self-taught in this profoundest doctrine, I have arrived at superhuman wisdom.  That which behooves the world to learn, but through the world no learner found, I now myself and by myself have learned throughout; ’tis rightly called Sambodhi.  That hateful family of griefs the sword of wisdom has destroyed; this then is what the world has named, and rightly named, the ‘chiefest victory.’  Through all Benares soon will sound the drum of life, no stay is possible—­I have no name—­nor do I seek profit or pleasure.  But simply to declare the truth; to save men from pain, and to fulfil my ancient oath, to rescue all not yet delivered.  The fruit of this my oath is ripened now, and I will follow out my ancient vow.  Wealth, riches, self all given up, unnamed, I still am named ‘Righteous Master.’  And bringing profit to the world, I also have the name ‘Great Teacher’; facing sorrows, not swallowed up by them, am I not rightly called ’Courageous Warrior?’ If not a healer of diseases, what means the name of ’Good Physician?’ Seeing the wanderer, not showing him the way, why then should I be called ‘Good Master-guide?’ Like as the lamp shines in the dark, without a purpose of its own, self-radiant, so burns the lamp of the Tathagata, without the shadow of a personal feeling.  Bore wood in wood, there must be fire; the wind blows of its own free self in