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585
These words of the Truth-finder so impressed Grāmani that he became his disciple then and there.
Samyutta Nikāya, Sankha sutta, 40.8
Comment
In Agama literature, we do not come across anyone. of the name of Grāmani. In the Tripitakas, the only other place in which he finds a mention is Gramani Saṁyutta. Gramani means 'the leader of a village', .
The discussion centres on Four Vows. Buddha's refutation appears to be no more than jugglery of words. But in the same talk, Buddha himself considers non-injury, truth, etc., to be wholesome. In the Panca sila of the Buddhists, four items at least are identical with the four vows of the Niganthast. Even amity, compassion, etc., mentioned by Buddha in this episode are in harmony with Patañjali's Yogadar sanal and the Jaina traditiona.
7. Famine in Nālandā:
Once Nalanda was in the grip. of a famine when Buddha was camped there with a large number of followers, Asked Nigantha Nataputta his follower Asibandhaka-putra Grāmani to go to Buddha and enter into a discussion with him.
Said he,
"Grāmaņi! Go and ask Sramana Gautama if he was bent on the destruction of kulas, or at least on their misery by being at Nalanda with so many followers at a time when the area was in the grip of a severe famine. This two-edged question will be more than he will be able either to spew out or to Swallow down". Grāmani did as he was asked to do. To his query, Buddha said,
1. Cf. Anguttara Nikāya, Pancaka Nipāta, 5.18.179. T. Samāanipāda, 1.33; 2. sántasudhārasa Bhavana 13-16.
