102. The Buddha meets with other ascetics
In the sixth week the Tathagata went away frown the dwelling of Mucilinda to the banyan-tree of the goatherds. Between these two places along the banks of the Nairanjana the Tathagata was seen by caraka's, parivrajaka's, old c,ravaka's, gautama's, nirgrantha's, aj~vaka's and others who said unto him: "Has the Bhagavan Gautama passed this week of bad weather according to his desire?" Then spoke the Tathagata these cheerful words: "According to
}liS desire is solitude for the contented one who bath heard the Law and obtained insight; according to his desire is compassion in the world and devotion to living beings, according to his desire is freedom from passion in the world and victory over sin; this is according to his greatest desire in this human world". (380: 10).There is here nothing to shew that we have returned to the banks of the Nairanjana. On a path hewn out of the rock the Buddha stands on his lotus-cushion; the left hand holds the tip of his garment, the right is raised towards the persons he addresses. Behind him on the right, against a background of foliage, follow the gods who form his escort, the front one holding an umbrella. On the left hand of the relief on a space with trees and low rocks stand four representatives of the ascetics the text mentions, hermits and monks of other sects. Two of them have smooth hair and plain clothing somewhat in the style of brahmans, the front one salutes with flowers in his folded hands; the second, holding a parasol, wears a beard. On the extreme left are another pair of the hermits who appear on so many reliefs, with hair twisted up in a knot, necklace and loincloth. The front one of these also seems to be giving the flower salute; the relief is here very much worn-away. Above the Buddha some flowers are falling from the sky.