Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c8.t1.13

c8.t1.13

"At this time," continues our narrative, "many distinguished and noble youths of the Magadha territory joined themselves to Buddha, to lead a pure life. On this the populace became displeased, murmured, and were angry, saying: 'The ascetic Gotama is come to bring childlessness: the ascetic Gotama is come to bring widowhood: the ascetic Gotama is come to bring subversion of families. Already hath he turned the thousand hermits into his disciples, and he hath made the two hundred and fifty mendicant followers of Sanjaya his disciples, and now these many distinguished and noble youths of the Magadha kingdom are betaking themselves to the ascetic Gotama to lead a religious life.’ And whenever the people saw any of the disciples they taunted them with these words :