z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 03.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 138
138 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- Having come to know of his whereabouts the Blessed Lord went to Uruvella.
II
The Blessed One met him and wanting to have an opportunity to instruct him and convert him, said: “If it is not disagreeable to you, Kassyapa, let me dwell one night in your Ashram.”
“I am not agreeable to this,” said Kassyapa. “There is a savage Naga king called Muchalinda who rules over this place. He is possessed of dreadful powers. He is the deadly enemy of all ascetics performing fire worship. He pays nocturnal visits to their Ashrams and does them great harm. I fear he may do you the same harm as he does to me.”
Kassyapa did not know that the Nagas had become the friends and followers of the Blessed One. But the Blessed One knew it.
So the Blessed One pressed for his request, saying : “He is not likely to do any harm to me : pray, Kassyapa, allow me a place in your fire room, for one night.”
Kassyapa continued to raise many difficulties and the Blessed One continued to press his request.
Then Kassyapa said : “My mind desires no controversy, only I have my fears and apprehensions, but follow your own good pleasure.”
The Blessed Lord forthwith stepped into the fire grove and took his seat.
The Naga king Muchalinda came into the room at his usual time. But instead of finding Kassyapa he found the Blessed One seated in his place.
Muchalinda, seeing the Lord seated, his face glowing with peace and serenity, felt as though he was in the presence of a great divinity, and bending his head, began to worship.
That night Kassyapa’s sleep was very much disturbed by the thought of what might have happened to his guest. So he got up with great misgivings fearing that his guest might have been burnt up.
Then Kassyapa and his followers at morning light came one and all to have a look. Far from seeing