Page:Gospel of Buddha.djvu/310

, however, when Patna became the important centre which it is now. It was the capital of the country when Megasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucus Nicator, at the end of the third century B, C., visited India. He gave in his book a detailed description of the city.—223. 224; Pātaliputra, three dangers hang over, 224.

Pātimo´kkha, p., Pratimo´ksha, skt., (usually spelt Prātimoksha in Buddhistic Sanskrit,) literally "disburdenment." It is the Buddhist confession. Rhys Davids says "that it almost certainly dates from the fifth century B, C. Since that time—during a period that is of nearly two thousand and three hundred years—it has been regularly repeated, twice in each month, in formal meetings of the stricter members of the Order- It occupies, therefore, a unique position in the literary history of the world; and no rules for moral conduct have been for so long a time as these in constant practical use, except only those laid down in the Old Testament and in the works of Confucius" (p. 163).—98, 99

Pā´vā, p and skt., a village where Buddha took his last meal—237, 239.

Pokkharasā´ti, p., Paushkarasā´ti, skt., a Brahman philosopher,—139

Pubbārā´ma, p., Pūrvārā´ma, skt., the Eastern garden.—94.

Pu´kkusa, p., Pu´kkasha or Pu´kkasa, skt., name of a low caste—239

Puññ´ajī, p., Pu´nyajit, skt., a friend of Yasa.—61

Ragā, pleasure, desire or lust; a synonym of rats The name; of one of Māra's daughters, q. v.—36.

Rā´hula, p. and skt., the son of Buddha, was admitted, to the fraternity while still a boy. Buddha gave him a lesson in truthfulness [see Chapter LVI]. He is always named among the prominent disciples of Buddha and is revered as the patron saint of novices.—14, 85, 86, 87, 88, 165, 166, 167

Rainy season (see Vassa).—58, 232.

Rā´jā p. and skt., nominative form of the stem rājan, a king (in composition rāja).

Rājaga´ha, p., Rājagríha, skt., the capital of Magadha and residence of king Bimbisāra.—26, 65, 69, 71, 71, 80, 91, 98, 220, 119, 144, 219, 220, 255.

Ra´tana, p., ra´tna, skt., "jewel."

Rati, love, liking; a synonym of ragā The name of one of Māra's daughters,—q. v. 36.

Saha´mpati, occurs only in the phrase "Brahmā Sahampati," a name frequently used in Buddhist scriptures the meaning of which is obscure. 282