spirits together raised a shout triumphant, “Well done! deeply seeing the principles of the law, Tathagata, on this auspicious day, has set revolving that which never yet revolved, and far and wide, for gods and men, has opened the gates of immortality.  Of this wheel the spokes are the rules of pure conduct; equal contemplation, their uniformity of length; firm wisdom is the tire; modesty and thoughtfulness, the rubbers (sockets in the nave in which the axle is fixed); right reflection is the nave; the wheel itself the law of perfect truth; the right truth now has gone forth in the world, not to retire before another teacher.”

Thus the earth spirits shouted, the spirits of the air took up the strain, the Devas all joined in the hymn of praise, up to the highest Brahma heaven.  The Devas of the triple world, now hearing what the great Rishi taught, in intercourse together spoke, “The widely honored Buddha moves the world!  Widespread, for the sake of all that lives, he turns the wheel of the law of complete purity!” The stormy winds, the clouds, the mists, all disappeared; down from space the heavenly flowers descended.  The Devas revelled in their joys celestial, filled with unutterable gladness.

[Footnote 99:  The distance from the place of the interview with the ministers to the Vulture Peak would be, in a straight line, about 150 miles.]

[Footnote 100:  The sense of the text and context appears to be this, that as there are those who drink the rain-clouds and yet are parched with thirst, so there are those who constantly practise religious duties and yet are still unblest.]

[Footnote 101:  The dhyanas are the conditions of ecstasy, enjoyed by the inhabitants of the Brahmaloka heavens.]

[Footnote 102:  The “fortunate tree,” the tree “of good omen,” the Bodhi tree.]

[Footnote 103:  The six organs of sense.]

CHAPTER IV

Bimbisara Raga Becomes a Disciple

And now those five men, Asvagit Vashpa, and the others, having heard that he (Kaundinya) “knew” the law, with humble mien and self-subdued, their hands joined, offered their homage, and looked with reverence in the teacher’s face.  Tathagata, by wise expedient, caused them one by one to embrace the law.  And so from first to last the five Bhikshus obtained reason and subdued their senses, like the five stars which shine in heaven, waiting upon the brightening moon.  At this time in the town of Ku-i there was a noble’s son called Yasas; lost in night-sleep suddenly he woke, and when he saw his attendants all, men and women, with ill-clad bodies, sleeping, his heart was filled with loathing; reflecting on the root of sorrow, he thought how madly foolish men were immersed in it.  Clothing himself, and putting on his jewels, he left his home and wandered forth; then on the way he stood and cried aloud, “Alas! alas! what endless chain of sorrows.”  Tathagata,