z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 07.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 476
476 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- Anathapindika was one of the eighty chief disciples who bore the title of Chief Almsgiver.
§ 3. Gift from Jeevaka
VI
Jeevaka the physician visited the Blessed One twice a day whenever the Blessed One happened to be in Rajagraha.
Jeevaka found the Veluvana gifted away to the Blessed One by King Bimbisara too far away.
Jeevaka had his own park in Rajagraha, known as Ambavana, which was much nearer from his place.
He thought of building a Vihara with all its adjuncts and present the Ambavana and the Vihara to the Blessed One.
With this idea in his mind he approached the Blessed One and requested him to let him fulfil his wishes.
The Blessed Lord showed his acceptance by remaining silent.
§ 4. Gift from Ambrapali
Now the Exalted One was staying at Nadika and was wishing for a change. He addressed Ananda, and said: “ Come, Ananda, let us go on to Vesali.”
“So be it, Lord,” said Ananda, in assent, to the Exalted One.
Then the Exalted One proceeded, with a great company of the brethren, to Vesali, and there at Vesali, the Exalted One stayed at Ambrapali’s grove.
Now the courtesan Ambrapali heard that the Exalted One had arrived at Vesali and was staying there at her mango grove. And ordering a number of state vehicles to be made ready, she mounted one of them, and went forth with her train from Vesali towards her garden. She went in the carriage as far as the ground was passable for carriages; there she alighted and she proceeded on foot to the place where the Exalted One was, and took her seat respectfully on one side. And when she was thus seated the