Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s2.t2.4
Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s2.t2.4
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v1.c14.s2.t2.4
Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta was a formidable rival of Buddha, and as he was at work earlier than Buddha, he made a fair progress in the spread of his religion in Magadha and the neighbouring states. It appears from the accounts of conversions to Buddhism that Buddha could not win over to his side many followers of Nāṭaputta. But he stole a march upon Nāṭaputta by enlisting among his upāsakas Bimbisāra and Ajātasattu who had been lay-supporters of Nāṭaputta.²