After going over to Buddhism, Upali treated his
former master with scorn, and presumed to relate a parable which should
prove the foolishness of those who believed in false doctrines. Thereupon
the Niga[n.][t.]ha fell into despair. He declared his alms-vessel was
broken, his existence destroyed, went to Pava, and died there. Naturally
no importance is to be given to this account and its details. They are
apparently the outcome of sect-hatred.] Here we have complete confirmation
of the statement of the Jaina canon as to the place where Vardhamana
entered _Nirva[n.]a_, as well as of the statement that a schism
occurred immediately after his death.
The harmony between the Buddhist and Jaina tradition, as to the person of
the head of the Nirgrantha is meanwhile imperfect. It is disturbed by the
description of Nataputta as a member of the Brahmanic sect of the
Agnive['s]yayana, whilst Vardhamana belonged to the Ka['s]yapa. The point
is however so insignificant, that an error on the part of the Buddhists is
easily possible. [Footnote: According to Jacobi's supposition,
_S.B.E_. Vol. XXII, p. xvi, the error was caused, by the only
disciple of Vardhamana, who outlived his master, Sudharman being an
Agnive['s]yayana.] It is quite to be understood that perfect exactness is
not to be expected among the Buddhists or any other sect in describing the
person of a hated enemy.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53