Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 17.djvu/141

127 at Bhaddiya as long as he thought fit, he went on, without informing Mendaka the householder, to AnguttarSpa with a great company of Bhikkhus, with one thousand two hundred and fifty Bhikkhus. And Mendsksi the householder heard : * The Blessed One, they say, has gone on to Anguttardpa with (&c.^ down to i) Bhikkhus.' And Me«^/aka the householder gave command to his slaves and servants : ' Load then, my men, a quantity of salt and oil, and rice, and hard food, and come : and let one thousand two hundred and fifty cow-keepers come with one thousand two hundred and fifty cows. Wherever we find the Blessed One there will we supply him with fresh milk,'

18. And Mendaka the householder came up with the Blessed One in a desert place on the way. And Mendaka the householder went up to the place where the Blessed One was: and when he had come he stood on one side. And so standing, Mendaka, the householder said to the Blessed One: *May the Blessed One consent to take his meal (&c., as usual, down to:) 'The time has come, and the meal is ready.'

19. And the Blessed One early in the morning (&c., down to :) sat down on the seat prepared for him.

Then Mendaka the householder gave command to those thousand two hundred and fifty cow- keepers: 'Take then, my men, each of you a cow, and wait each of you upon a Bhikkhu, and provide him with fresh milk.'

And Mendaka the householder waited upon the Bhikkhu-samgha with the Buddha at their head with his own hand, and satisfied them with sweet food, hard and soft, and with fresh milk.