A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.50

v2.c19.s3.t2.50

In some cases there is not much more than a thread to connect the "pithy saying" with the corresponding story. On the other hand, there are a few Suttas, in which the narrative is more interesting and more significant than the "pithy saying." For instance, III, 2, tells the story of Nanda, the half-brother of Buddha, who, though a monk, still harbours thoughts of the wife he has left behind, and is taken by the Lord to Indra's heaven, where he sees the heavenly nymphs, and observes that, beside these, his wife only looks like a wretched she-ape. Then Nanda only practises his monastic vow so as to gain possession of the beautiful heavenly women, but finally Buddha puts him on the right path.[^2) The story in II, 8, is of interest, because it shows that in comparatively olden times loving devotion (bhakti) to Buddha was regarded as productive of miracles. The parable of the blind men and the elephant, in VI, 4, is famous: