one called Kimbila, the other called Kalaka.
Again coming to the Vaggi country, he converted the
Yaksha demon, whose name was Pisha, the father and
mother of Nagara, and the great noble also, he caused
to believe gladly in the true law. Coming to
the Kausarubi country, he converted Goshira, and the
two Upasikas, Vaguttara and her companion Uvari; and
besides these, many others, one after the other.
Coming to the country of Gandhara he converted the
Naga Apalala; thus in due order all these air-going,
water-loving natures he completely converted and saved,
as the sun when he shines upon some dark and sombre
cave. At this time Devadatta, seeing the remarkable
excellences of Buddha, conceived in his heart a jealous
hatred; losing all power of thoughtful abstraction
he ever plotted wicked schemes, to put a stop to the
spread of the true law; ascending the Gridhrakuta
mount he rolled down a stone to hit Buddha; the stone
divided into two parts, each part passing on either
side of him. Again, on the royal highway he loosed
a drunken, vicious elephant. With his raised
trunk trumpeting as thunder he ran, his maddened breath
raising a cloud around him, his wild pace like the
rushing wind, to be avoided more than the fierce tempest;
his trunk and tusks and tail and feet, when touched
only, brought instant death. Thus he ran through
the streets and ways of Ragagriha, madly wounding
and killing men; their corpses lay across the road,
their brains and blood scattered afar. Then all
the men and women filled with fear, remained indoors;
throughout the city there was universal terror, only
piteous shrieks and cries were heard; beyond the city
men were running fast, hiding themselves in holes
and dens. Tathagata, with five hundred followers,
at this time came towards the city; from tops of gates
and every window, men, fearing for Buddha, begged
him not to advance; Tathagata, his heart composed and
quiet, with perfect self-possession, thinking only
on the sorrow caused by hate, his loving heart desiring
to appease it, followed by guardian angel-nagas, slowly
approached the maddened elephant. The Bhikshus
all deserted him, Ananda only remained by his side;
joined by every tie of duty, his steadfast nature
did not shake or quail. The drunken elephant,
savage and spiteful, beholding Buddha, came to himself
at once, and bending, worshipped at his feet just
as a mighty mountain falls to earth. With lotus
hand the master pats his head, even as the moon lights
up a flying cloud. And now, as he lay crouched
before the master’s feet, on his account he
speaks some sacred words: “The elephant
cannot hurt the mighty dragon, hard it is to fight
with such a one; the elephant desiring so to do will
in the end obtain no happy state of birth; deceived
by lust, anger, and delusion, which are hard to conquer,
but which Buddha has conquered. Now, then, this
very day, give up this lust, this anger and delusion!
You! swallowed up in sorrow’s mud! if not now
given up, they will increase yet more and grow.”