Part 18: Further wandering with Gośāla

Gradually the Master went to Bhaddilapura, spent the fifth rainy season there, and observed a fast of four months. After he had broken fast somewhere outside, the Lord wandered gradually to the village Kadalīsamāgama. There Gośāla noticed that food from a fire-place was being given to those asking for it and said, “Master, come here. Let us eat.” Siddhārtha said, “We are fasting today.” Saying, “I shall eat alone,” miserable Gośāla went to that place. Eating like a piśāca, Gośāla was not satisfied and the villagers gave him a large dish filled with all kinds of food. Gośāla was not able to eat all the food since, with food up to his neck, he did not have energy even to sip water. “Ignorant of your own capacity for food, are you famine incarnate?” saying, the people emptied the dish of food on his head. Rubbing his protuberant stomach with satisfaction, Gośāla went as he had come.

The Blessed One went to a village named Jambūkhaṇḍa. The Lord being in statuesque posture there, the miserable Gośāla went with the intention of obtaining food from a fire-place and as before ended with an assault with food.

Gradually the Master went to the hamlet Tumbāka and stood outside in statuesque posture. Gośāla went to the village. There he saw a disciple of Pārśva, Nandiṣeṇa, old, famous, attended by followers who had abandoned entirely anxiety about the sect. When Gośāla had seen him practicing the Jinakalpa rites, like Municandra, he laughed and went back to the Master. At night the sage Nandiṣeṇa stood in the courtyard in kāyotsarga, absorbed in religious meditation, motionless as a pillar. Seen by the guard, he was struck down with the idea that he was a thief. He died with clairvoyance produced at once and went to heaven. The miserable Gośāla saw the ceremony held in his honor by the gods, went to his disciples, and described it with loud ridicule.

Then Vīra in his wandering went to the hamlet Kūpikā. There he and Gośāla were tortured by guards with the idea they were spies. “A holy man, handsome, calm, innocent, is being beaten by young guards, who mistake him for a spy,” was whispered among all the people. Two followers of Pārśva, Pragalbha and Avijaya, who had abandoned their vows but followed mendicancy as a livelihood, lived there. After hearing the news, saying, “May it not be the Arhat Vīra,” they went there with anxiety and saw the Blessed One in such circumstances. They paid homage to the Master, and said to the guards: “Fools, do you not know Vīra, Siddhārtha’s son? Free him quickly. If Śakra knows about this fault, then the life-taking thunderbolt will fall on your head.” Terrified, they set the Lord free and apologized.