History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c12.s4.1

c12.s4.1

The Bhagavatī Sūtra's account returns to the dying Gosāla.⁸ In Sāvatthi there dwelt Ayampula, an earnest lay adherent of the Ājīvika order. In the early part of the night he was suddenly troubled by an important question: "What is the form of the hallā?"⁹ He decided to put this question to his omniscient teacher, so he rose and went to the potter's workshop. There he found Gosāla in the shameful condition already described. Ayampula was about to retire, but was intercepted by some of the Ājīvika disciples who surrounded Gosāla. They informed him that their master had just propounded his new doctrines of the eight finalities, the four drinks, and the four substitutes for drink; and they added that Gosāla was quite able to answer Ayampula’s question. While they kept him out of sight of Gosāla they made a sign to the latter to throw aside his mango stone before giving audience to Ayampula. At last the credulous Ayampula was allowed to approach. The master’s words to him were of the strangest character: “This is not a mango stone, but a mango skin. Of what form is the *hallā*? It is like a bamboo root. Play the *vīṇā*, old fellow, play the *vīṇā*, old fellow!”¹