Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 17.djvu/142

128 The Bhikkhus, fearing to offend, would not take the milk: 'Take it, Bhikkhus, and drink it.'

20. And Mendaka the householder, when he had waited with his own hand upon the Bhikkhu-samgha with the Buddha at their head, and had satisfied them with sweet food, hard and soft, and with fresh milk; and when the Blessed One had finished his meal, and had washed his hands and his bowl, took his seat on one side. And, so sitting, Mendaka the householder said to the Blessed One: 'There are desert ways. Lord, waterless and foodless, where it is not easy to travel without supplies for the journey. It would be well if the Blessed One were to allow the Bhikkhus to take supplies with them.' Then the Blessed One gladdened (&c., as usual, down to:) rose from his seat, and went away.

21. And the Blessed One, in that connection, and on that account, after having delivered a religious discourse, said to the Bhikkhus:

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the five products of the cow; — milk, curds, ghee, buttermilk, and butter. There are, O Bhikkhus, desert ways, waterless and foodless, where it is not easy to travel without supplies for the journey. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to provide yourselves with supplies for a journey; — rice for him who wants rice, beans for him who wants beans, salt for him who wants salt, molasses for him who wants molasses, oil for him who wants oil, ghee for him who wants ghee. There are, O Bhikkhus, faithful and converted men who deposit