THE   BUDDHA  AND  HIS  TEACHING
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Chapter  11
The   Buddha,s  Royal   Patrons
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" A  treacherous  bog  it is  this  patronage
Of  bows  and  gifts  and  treats  from  wealthy  folk.
 " Tis  like  a  fine  dart,  bedded  in  the  flesh.
  For  erring  human   hard  to  extricate."
MAHAKASSAPS  THE   GATHA  (1053)

King  Bimbisara
           King Bimbisara, who ruled in Magadha with its capital at Rajakaha, was the Buddha,s first royal patron.     Ascending the throne at the age of fifteen, he reigned for fifty-two years.
      When Prince  Siddhasttha renounced the world and was seeking alms in the streets of Rajakaha
as a humble ascetic, the King saw him from his palace and was highly impressed by his majestic ap-
pearance and dignified deportment.   Immediately he sent messengers to ascertain who he was.  On
learning that he was resting after his meal under the Pandavapabbata, the King, accompanied by his
retinue, went up to the royal ascetic and inquired about his birthplace and ancestry.     The ascetic
Gotama  replied:
      "Just straight, O King, upon the Himalaya, there is, in the district of Kosala of ancient families,
a country endowed wit wealth and energy.     I am sprung from that family which by clan belong to the Solar dynasty, by birth to the Sakayas.     I crave not for pleasures of the sense.     Realizing the
evil of sensual pleasures and seeing renunciation as safe,  I proceeded to seek the Highest, for in that my mind rejoices."
      Thereupon the King invited him to visit his kingdom after his enlightenment.
The  Buddha  meets  King  Bimbisara
     In accordance with the promise the Buddha made to King Bimbisara before His Enlightenment,
He, with His large retinue of Arahant disciples, went from Gaya to Rajakaha, the capital of the dis-
trict of Magadha.   Here He stayed at the Suppatittha Shrine in a Palm Grove.
                   This happy news of the Buddha,s arrival in the kingdom and His High reputation as an 
unparalleled religious teacher soon spread in the city.   The King, hearing of His arrival, came with
a large number of his subjects rto welcome the Buddha.     He approached the Buddha, respectfully saluted Him and sat at a side.    Of his subjects some respectfully saluted Him, some looked towards
him with expression of friendly greetings, some saluted Him with clasped hands, some introduced 
themselves, while others in perfect silence took their seats.        As both the Buddha Gotama and 
Venerable Kassapa were held in high esteem by the multitude they were not certain whether the
buddha was leading the Holy Life under Venerable Kassapa or the latter under the former.     The
Buddha read their thoughts and questioned Venerable Kassapa as to why he had given up his fire-
sacritice.        Understanding the motive of the Buddha,s question, he explained that he abandoned 
fire-sacrifice because he preferred the passionless and peaceful state of Nibbana to worthless sen-
sual pleasures.    After this he fell at the feet of the Buddha and acknowledging his superiority said:
"My teacher, Lord, is the Exalted One:  I am the disciple.   My teacher, Lord, is the Exalted One: I
am the disciple."
      The devout people were delighted to hear of the conversion.   The Buddha thereupon preached
the Maha Narada Kassapa Jakata to show how in a previous birth when He was born as Narada,
still subject to passion, He converted Kassapa in a similar way.
    Hearing the Dhamma expounded by the Buddha, the "Eye of
Truth"  arose in them all.    King Bimbisara attained Sotapatti, and seeking refuuge in the Buddha,
the Dhamma and the Sangha, invited the Buddha and His disciples to his palace for the meal on the
following day.     After the meal the King wished to know where the Buddha would reside.    The Buddhareplied that a secluded place, neither too far nor too close to the city, accessible to those who desire to visit Him, pleasant, not crowded during the day, not too noisy at night, with as few sounds as possible, airy and fit for the privacy of men, would be suitable.
           The King thought that his Bamboo Grove would meet all such requirements.    Therefore in return for the transcendental gift the Buddha had bestowed upon him, he gifted for the use of the 
Buddha and the Sangha the park with this ideally secluded bamboo grove, also known as 'The sanc-
tuary of the Squirrels.   It would appear that this park had no building for the use of Bhikkhus but
was filled with many shady trees and secluded spots.    However, this was the first gift of a place of
residence for the Buddha and His disciples.    The Buddha spent three successive rainy seasons and
three other rainy seasons in this quiet Veluvanarama.'
                  After his concersion the King led the life of an exemplary monarch observing Uposatha regularly on six days of the month.
Kosala Devi, daughter of King  Maha Kasala, and sister of King Pasenadi was her son.    Khema 
who through the ungenuity of the King, became a follower of the Buddha and who later rose to the
position of the first female disciples of the Order of Nuns, was another queen.      Though he was a
pious monarch, yet, due to his past evil Kamma, he had a very sad and pathetic end.
      Prince Ajatasattu, successor to the throne, instigated by whicked Devadatta  Thera, attempted 
to kill him and usurp the throne.    The unfortunate prince was caught red-handded, and the compas
sionate father, instead of punishing him for his brutal act, rewarded him with the coveted Crown.
     The ungrateful son showed his gratitude to his father by casting him into prison in order to stave
him to death.    His mother alone had free access to the King daily.     The loyal queen carried food
concealed in her waist-pouch.    To this the prince objected.     Then she carried food concealed in
her hair-knot.         The prince resented this too.   Later she bathed herself in scented water and besmeared her body with a mixture of honey, butter, ghee, and molasses.  The King licked her body
and sustained himself.      The over-vigilant prince detected this and ordered his mother not to visit 
his father.
          King  Bimbisara was without any means of sustenance, but he paced up and down enjoying 
spiritual happiness as he was a Sotapanna.    Ultimately the wicked son decided to put an end to the
life of his noble father.    Ruthlessly he ordered his barber to cut open his soles and put salt and oil
thereon and make himwalk on burning charcoal.
     The King, who saw the barber approaching, thought that the son, realizing his folly, was sending
the barber to shave his grown beard and  hair and release him from prison.    Contrary to his expect
ations, he had to meet an untimetly sad end.    The barber mercilessly executed the in human orders
of the barberous prince.   The good King died in great agony.       On that very day a son was born unto Ajatasattu.      Latters conveying the news of birth and death reached the palace at the same time.
    The latter conveying the happy news was first read.   Lo,the
love he cherished towards his first born son was indescribable!.   His body was thrilled withjoy and
the paternal love penetrated up to the very marrow of his bones.
          Immediately he rushed to his beloved mother and questioned:   "Mother dear, did my father love me when I was a child?.
          "What say you, son!    When you were conceived in my womb,  I developed a craving to sip 
some blood from the right hand of your father.   This I dare not say.   Consequently I grew pale and
thin.     I was finally persuaded to disclose my in human desire.      Joyfully your father fulfilled my  
wish, and I drank that abhorrent potion.     The soothsayers predicted that you would be an enemy
of your father.    Accordingly you were named Ajatasattu  (unborn enemy).     I attempted to effect
a miscarriage, but your father prevented it.          After you  wereborn, again I wanted to kill you.   Again your father interfered.     On one occasion you were suffering from a boil in your finger, and
nobody was able to lull you into sleep.    But your father, who was administering justice in his royal
court, took you into his lap and caressing you sucked the boil.    Lo, inside the mouth it burst open.
O, my dear son, that pus and blood!   Yes, your effectionate father swallowed it out of love for you.
          Instantly he cried,    "Run and release, release my beloved father quickly!"    His father had closed his eyes for ever.    The other letter was then placed in his hand. 
         Ajatasattu she hot tears.    He realized what paternal  love was only after he became a father
himself.    King Bimbisara  died and was immediately after born as a Deva named Janavasabha in
the Catummaharajika  Heaven.
      Later,  Ajatasattu, met the Buddha and became one of His distinguished lay followers and took
a leading part in the holding of the first  Convocation.
King   Pasenadi   Kosala
         King Pasenadi Kosala, the son of King Maha Kosala,  who reigned in the kingdom of Kosala 
with its capital at Savatthi, was another royal patron of the Buddha.      He was a contemporary of
the Buddha, and owing to his proficiency in various arts, he had the good fortune to be made King
by his father while he was alive.
       His conversion must probaly have taken place during the very early part of the Buddha,s minis
try.    In the Samyutta Nikaya it is stated that once he approached the Buddha and questioning Him
about His perfect enlightenment referred to Him as being young in years and young in ordination.
         The Buddha replied.   "There are four objects, O Maharaja, that should not be disregarded or despised.   They are a Khattiya (a warrior prince), a snake, fire, and a Bhikkhu ( mendicant monk).
     Then He delivered an interesting sermon on this subject to the King.   At the close of the sermon
the King expressed his great pleasure and instantly became a follower of the Buddha.     Since then
till his death he was deeply attached to the Buddha.     It is said that  on one occasion the King pros
trated himself before the Buddha and stroked His feet covering them with kisses.
      His chief queen, Mallika a very devout and wise lady, well versed in the Dhamma, was greatly
responsible for his religious enthusiasm.       Like a true friend, she had to act as his religious quide 
on several occasions.