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274 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
priests to assemble at his palace to partake of hospitality.
III
The Buddha therefore recognizing the superior and revered appearance of Patisena, desired him to bear his alms-dish and follow him as he went.
But when they came to the palace gate, the porter, knowing his character (antecedents), would not let him go into the hall, saying : “We have no hospitality for a priest who knows but one Gatha ; there is no room for such common fellows as you— make place for your betters and begone.”
Patisena accordingly sat down outside the door.
The Buddha now ascended the dais, after having washed his hands, and lo ! the arm of Patisena, with the alms-dish in its hand, entered the room.
Then the king, the ministers, and all the assembly seeing this sight, were filled with astonishment, and said, “Ah ! Who is this ?”
On which the Buddha replied, “It is Patisena, the mendicant. He has but just obtained enlightenment, and I desired him to bear my alms-dish behind me; but the porter has refused him admission.”
On this he was admitted and entered the assembly.
Then Prasenjit, turning to Buddha, said : “I hear that this Patisena is a man of small ability, and knows only one Gatha, how, then, has he obtained the supreme wisdom ?”
To which Buddha replied : “Learning need not be much, conduct (Sila) is the first thing.
“This, Patisena, has allowed the secret virtue of the words of this one Gatha to penetrate his spirit ; his body, mouth, and thoughts have obtained perfect quietude; for though a man knows ever so much, if his knowledge reaches not to his life, to deliver him from the power which leads to destruction, what benefit can all his learning be ?”
Then the Buddha said :
“Although a man repeats a thousand stanzas (sections), but understands not the meaning of the