The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c8.12

c8.12

He said, however, to them, "Brothers, you live permanently in the woods and eat the roots and fruits of the forest; why don't you tread the soil of men?" "Brother, men want, as soon as they have given us alms, to hear in return the doctrine (*dhamma*) from us; they put questions to us and for fear of this we don't go there". "Brothers, even if a world-conqueror should come, as you have me, let the answer be my care and do not fear". With these words, he betook himself with them to the route followed by them in begging and gradually reached Benares; here he stopped in the park of the king and went next day a-begging in the company of all to a village provided with a door. The people gave them copious alms; next day, the ascetics came to the city where, too, abundant alms fell to their lot. The ascetic Uddâlaka gave the thanks, pronounced the benedictions and answered the questions. The people were greatly edified, gave the ascetics liberally, as much as they wanted. Throughout the town the rumour spread that a wise teacher and pious ascetic had come; people narrated this even to the king. The latter asked where he was staying and when he heard that he was staying with the rest of the ascetics in the park, he said, "Good, I will go and see him to-day". Somebody announced to Uddâlaka that the king was coming to see him. He called together the host of wise men and said to them, "Dear brothers, if one wins a prince even for a single day, this is enough for his whole life". "What, however, shall we do, O teacher?" He gave them the following advice: Some of you should behave like a bat¹; some of you should sit with folded legs and practise penance, some should lie on a bed of thorns, some should practise the penance relating to the five fires², others should plunge into the water, still others should recite verses in different places". They did accordingly. He himself, however, sat with eight or ten learned men, sourrounded by disciples upon a space specially prepared for this and placed a book upon a beautiful desk. In a moment the king came to the park with the purohita, surrounded by a large number of men, and as he saw the false ascetics practising penance, he reflected, "They are all free from all fear of misery," went to Uddālaka, seated himself by his side after accosting him with reverence, and began the following conversation with the purohita in a happy spirit: