Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/295

Rh garment, and this under garment, and this coverlet — are they all yours?"

"Yes; mine indeed," said he.

"Brother, the Buddha has allowed only three sets of robes; yet, though you have entered the Order of the self-denying Buddha, you have furnished yourself thus grandly." And saying, "Come, let us bring him before the Sage," they took him, and went to the Teacher.

When the Teacher saw them, he said, "How is it, mendicants, that you bring this brother here against his will?"

"Lord! this mendicant has much property and a large wardrobe."

"Is this true then, brother, that you have so many things?"

"It is true, O Blessed One!"

"How is it, brother, that you have become thus luxurious? Have not I inculcated being content with little, simplicity, seclusion, and self-control?"

On hearing what the Teacher said, he called out angrily, "Then I will go about in this way!" and throwing off his robe, he stood in the midst of the people there with only a cloth round his loins!

Then the Teacher, giving him support in temptation, said, "But, brother, you had formerly a sense of shame, and lived for twelve years a conscientious life when you were a watersprite. How then, now, having entered the so honourable Order of the Buddhas, can you stand there throwing off your robes in the presence of all the brethren, and lost to all sense of shame?"

And when he heard the Teacher's saying, he recovered his sense of propriety, and robed himself again, and bowing to the Teacher stood respectfully aside.

But the monks asked the Teacher to explain how that was. Then the Teacher made manifest the matter which had been hidden by change of birth.