with compassion, go! rescue and receive.  I too will go alone, back to yonder Kia-ke mountain; where there are great Rishis, royal Rishis, Brahman Rishis too, these all dwell there, influencing men according to their schools.  The Rishi Kasyapa, enduring pain, reverenced by all the country, making converts too of many, him will I visit and convert.”  Then the sixty Bhikshus respectfully receiving orders to preach, each according to his fore-determined purpose, following his inclination, went through every land.  The honored of the world went on alone, till he arrived at the Kia-ke mountain, then entering a retired religious dell, he came to where the Rishi Kasyapa was.  Now this one had a “fire grot” where he offered sacrifice, where an evil Naga dwelt, who wandered here and there in search of rest, through mountains and wild places of the earth.  The honored of the world, wishing to instruct this hermit and convert him, asked him, on coming, for a place to lodge that night.  Kasyapa, replying, spake to Buddha thus:—­“I have no resting-place to offer for the night, only this fire grot where I sacrifice; this is a cool and fit place for the purpose, but an evil dragon dwells there, who is accustomed, as he can, to poison men.”  Buddha replied, “Permit me only, and for the night I’ll take my dwelling there.”  Kasyapa made many difficulties, but the world-honored one still asked the favor.  Then Kasyapa addressed Buddha, “My mind desires no controversy, only I have my fears and apprehensions, but follow you your own good pleasure.”  Buddha forthwith stepped within the fiery grot, and took his seat with dignity and deep reflection; and now the evil Naga seeing Buddha, belched forth in rage his fiery poison, and filled the place with burning vapor.  But this could not affect the form of Buddha.  Throughout the abode the fire consumed itself, the honored of the world still sat composed:  Even as Brahma, in the midst of the kalpa-fire that burns and reaches to the Brahma heavens, still sits unmoved, without a thought of fear or apprehension, so Buddha sat; the evil Naga seeing him, his face glowing with peace, and still unchanged, ceased his poisonous blast, his heart appeased; he bent his head and worshipped.  Kasyapa in the night seeing the fire-glow, sighed:—­“Ah! alas! what misery! this most distinguished man is also burnt up by the fiery Naga.”  Then Kasyapa and his followers at morning light came one and all to look.  Now Buddha having subdued the evil Naga, had straightway placed him in his patra, beholding which, and seeing the power of Buddha, Kasyapa conceived within him deep and secret thoughts:—­“This Gotama,” he thought, “is deeply versed in religion, but still he said, ’I am a master of religion.’” Then Buddha, as occasion offered, displayed all kinds of spiritual changes, influencing Kasyapa’s heart-thoughts, changing and subduing them, making his mind pliant and yielding, until at length prepared to be a vessel of the true law, he confessed that his poor wisdom could not compare