z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 03.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 140
140 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
all his sacrificial vessels, threw them together into the river, which floated down upon the surface of the current.
II
Nadi and Gaya, who dwelt down the stream, seeing these articles of clothing (and the rest) floating along the stream disorderly, said, “These are the belongings of our brother ; why has he thrown them away ? Some great change has happened,” and were deeply pained and restless. The two, each with five hundred followers, went up the stream to seek their brother.
On seeing him and all his followers now dressed as hermits, strange thoughts engaged their minds and they inquired into the reasons. Uruvella Kassyapa told them the story of his conversion to the Buddha’s Dhamma.
“Our brother having submitted thus, we too should also follow him,” they said.
They conveyed their wishes to their eldest brother. Then the two brothers, with all their band of followers, were brought to hear the Lord’s discourse on the comparison of a fire sacrifice with his own gospel.
In his discourse to the two brothers the Blessed Lord said : “The dark smoke of ignorance arises, whilst confused thoughts, like wood drilled into wood, create the fire.
“Lust, anger, delusion, these are as fire produced, and these enflame and burn all other things which cause grief and sorrow in the world.
“If once this way is found and lust, anger and delusion consumed, then with it is born sight, knowledge and pure conduct.
“So when the heart of a man has once conceived distaste for sin, this distaste removes covetous desire, covetous desire extinguished, there is recluse.”
The great Rishis listening to him, lost all regard for fire worship and wished to be the disciples of the Buddha.
The conversion of the Kassyapas was a great