Vol. 11 · pages 221–225

203 CONVERSION OF THE FALLEN AND THE CRIMINALS II § 1. Conversion of a Vagabond 1. There was in olden times a certain disorderly person living in Rajagraha, who neither reverenced his parents nor paid respect to his superiors, but always had resort to sacrifice and worship of the sun and moon and fire when he went wrong, hoping thereby to get merit, and feel happy in himself. 2. But notwithstanding all his bodily exercises, in worship and offerings, he found no peace, even after three years’ incessant perseverance. 3. He at length resolved to go to Shravasti to inquire of the Buddha. Arrived there, and seeing the glory of his person, he fell down at his feet, and said how he was pleased. 4. Then the Lord explained the folly of animal sacrifice, and the uselessness of all such exercises where the heart was untouched, and where there was no final reverence or dutiful behaviour to those to whom it belonged ; and in conclusion recited certain gathas, which resplendent with glory, lit up the place and all the surrounding country with the brightness of his presence. 5. On this, the villagers, and especially the parents of the children, came near to worship him. 6. On seeing the parents, and hearing their account of the children, Buddha smiled, and recited these gathas. 7. “The great man is entirely free from covetous desire; he wells in a place of light himself enlightened. Although perchance he meets with sorrow, he rejoices; without consternation, he exhibits his wisdom. 8. “The wise man (bhadra) concerns himself with no worldly business ; he desires neither wealth, children, or possessions (land), always carefully observing the precepts, and walking in the way of supreme wisdom, he hankers not after strange doctrine (or wealth or honour). 9. “The wise man, knowing the character of instability, as a tree in the midst of sand (uses every effort) to change his friend whose mind is unfixed, and to bring him back from impurity to virtue (purity).”

204 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES II § 2. Conversion of Angulimala, the Robber 1. There was, in the realm of Pasenadi, king of Kosala, a robber named Angulimala, a ruffian whose hands were red with blood, who was always killing and wounding, and showed no mercy to any living creature. Because of him, what had been villages were villages no more, what had been townships were townships no more, and what had been countryside was countryside no more. 2. From every human being whom he slew, he took a finger to make for himself a necklace, and so got his name of “Necklace of Fingers.” 3. Once when the Lord was staying in Shravasti in Jeta’s grove he had heard of the ravages committed by the robber Angulimala. The Blessed Lord decided to convert him into a righteous man. So one day after taking his meal and after putting away his bedding and then, with robes and bowl, set out on his journey to find the robber Angulimala. 4. Seeing him journeying thither, neatherds, goatherds, ploughmen and wayfarers called out: “Don’t go that way, recluse! It will take you to the robber Angulimala. 5. “Why, even when, ten, twenty, thirty, or forty people band themselves together to travel this road, the whole company falls into the robber’s hands !” But, without a word, the Lord held on to his way. 6. A second time, and yet a third time those near there and the rest repeated their warning; but still, without a word, the Lord went his way. 7. From some way off the robber saw the Lord coming and marvelled exceedingly that, where even companies of ten to fifty travellers dare not come his way, this solitary recluse should be seen to be forcing his way alone; and the robber was minded to slay ‘this recluse.’ So, armed with sword and buckler and with his bow and quiver, the robber followed up the Lord’s trail. 8. The Lord, while he himself was proceeding at

205 CONVERSION OF THE FALLEN AND THE CRIMINALS II his wonted pace, the robber, for all his efforts, could not catch him up. 9. Thought the robber: “This is a wonderful and marvellous thing. Heretofore, I could always overtake an elephant, or horse, or carriage, or deer, when going full speed; and yet here am I unable, despite all my efforts, to overtake this recluse while he proceeds at his wonted pace.” So he stopped and shouted to the Lord to stop. 10. When the two met the Lord said: “I have stopped, Angulimala, for your sake. Will you stop following your career of an evil doer? I have been pursuing you in order to win you over, to cover you to the path of righteousness. The good in you is not yet dead. If you will only give it a chance it will transform you.” 11. Angulimala felt overcome by the words of the Blessed One, saying, “At last this sage has tracked me down.” 12. “And now that thy hallowed words ask me to renounce evil deeds forever, I am prepared to give myself a trial,” replied Angulimala. 13. Angulimala threw into a deep abyss the string of his victims’ fingers which he wore round his neck and fell at the Master’s feet and craved admission to the Brotherhood. 14. The Lord, the guide of gods and men, said: “Almsman, follow me” ; and almsman since that summons Angulimala did become. 15. With Angulimala as his almsman in attendance, the Lord now proceeded on his way to the pleasance in Shravasti. At this very time the portals of King Pasenadi’s inner palace were beset by a huge crowd loudly shouting that in the realm he had conquered there was a robber named Angulimala, a ruffian who was committing ravages and was killing and wounding innocent people and who took pride in wearing a necklace made of fingers of victims whom he slew. “Suppress him, sire,” they cried. Pasenadi promised to run him down to earth. But he failed. 16. One morning King Pasenadi went to the

206 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES II pleasance to see the Lord. The Blessed Lord inquired: “What is the matter, sire ? Is there trouble with Seniya Bimbisara of Magadha, or with Licchavis of Vesali or with any other hostile power ?” 17. “No trouble at all of that sort, sir. In my realms there is a robber named Angulimala who is infesting my territories and harassing my subjects. I want to suppress him but I have failed.” 18. “If now, sire, you were to see Angulimala with his hair and beard off, in the yellow robes, as a pilgrim who kills not steals not, lies not, eats but one meal a day, and leads the higher life in virtue and goodness,— what would you do to him ?” 19. “Sir, I would salute him, or rise to meet him or would invite him to be seated or invite him to accept robes and other requisites, or I would extend to him the defence, protection and safeguards which are his due. But how could the shadow of such virtue ever extend to one so wicked and depraved?” 20. At that moment the Reverend Angulimala was seated quite close to the Lord, who stretching forth his right arm, said: “This, sire, is Angulimala !” 21. At this the king in his alarm became dumbfounded, with every hair of his body standing erect. Seeing this, the Lord said, “Fear not, sire; fear not; there is no cause for fear here.” 22. So the king’s fears and alarm abated ; and across to the reverend Angulimala he went, saying: “Is your reverence indeed Angulimala ?” “Yes, sire.” 23. “What sire, was your father’s family, and your mother’s ?” “My father was a Gagga, sire, and my mother a Mantani.” 24. “Be of good cheer, Gagga Mantani-putta; I will take care to supply you with all requisites.” 25. Now at the time the Reverend Angulimala having pledged to be resident in the wilds, subsisting on alms, and wearing clothes from the dust heap not exceeding three in number, he declined the king’s offer on the ground that he had already got his full three robes. 26. Then the king went across to the Lord and