History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c11.s4.20

c11.s4.20

About Gosāla’s early life, before his meeting with Mahāvīra, the Bhagavatī Sūtra tells us only that he maintained himself by the profession of a maṅkha, with a picture-board in his hand.⁴ A further tale is provided by Buddhaghosa, in his commentary to the Sāmañña-phala Sutta.⁵ He agrees with the Bhagavatī in stating that Gosāla acquired his name on account of his birth in a cowshed, and further states that Gosāla was a slave who, while walking over a patch of muddy ground carrying a pot of oil, was hailed by his master with the words “don’t stumble, old fellow!” (tāta mā khal’ îti). Despite the warning he carelessly tripped and spilt the oil. Fearing his master’s anger he made off, but his master pursued and overtook him, catching him by the edge of his robe (dāsakaṇṇa). Leaving his garment behind him Gosāla escaped in a state of nudity. Hence he became a naked mendicant, and acquired the name of Makkhali from the last words, “Mā khali,” spoken to him by his master.