Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/318

202 a numerous retinue, to the nunnery, and had her admitted into the Order of Nuns — but among those who sided with Deva-datta. And she was overjoyed that her wish had been fulfilled, and that she had become a nun.

Now, as she became far gone with child, the nuns noticed the alteration in her person, — the swelling of her hands and feet and back, and the increase in her girth; and they asked her, "Lady, you seem to be with child. How is this?"

"I don't know how it is, ladies; but I have kept the vows."

Then the nuns led her to Deva-datta, and asked him, "Sir! this young lady, after with difficulty gaining her husband's consent, was received into the Order. But now it is evident that she is with child; and we know not whether she became so when she was a laywoman or when she was a nun. What shall we do now?"

Deva-datta, not being a Buddha, and having no forbearance, kindness, or compassion, thought thus: "If people can say, 'A nun of Deva-datta's side is carrying about a child in her womb, and Deva-datta condones it,' I shall be disgraced. I must unfrock this woman!" And without any inquiry, he answered with eagerness, "Go and expel this woman from the Order!" — just as if he were rushing forwards to roll away a mere piece of stone!

When they heard his decision, they arose, and bowed to him, and returned to the nunnery. But the young girl said to the nuns, "Ladies! the Elder, Deva-datta, is not the Buddha. Not under him did I enter the religious life, but under the Buddha himself, who is supreme among men. What I obtained with such difficulty, O, deprive me not of that! Take me, I pray you, and go to the Master himself at Jetavana!"

And they took her; and passing over the forty-five leagues of road which stretched from Rājagaha to that