________________ The Glory that was Vaisali 139 planted, as soon as they have finished their meal, come and see me in the gable-chamber over the gate of Jetavana". So he went into the city, and when he had ended his meal, he took his stand in the chamber over the monastery gate. The female ascetics too, after going their rounds for alms returned and found the branch bad been trampled on. And when they asked who had done this, the boys told them it was Sariputta, and if they were anxious for a disputation, they were to go to the chamber over the gate of the monastery. So they returned to the city, and followed by a great crowd went to the gate-tower of the monastery and propounded to the priest a thousand different theses. The priest solved all their difficulties and then asked them if they knew any more. They replied, "No, my Lord". "Then I", said he, "will ask you something". "Ask on, my Lord", they said, "and if we know it, we will answer you". So the priest propounded just one question to them, and when they had to give it up, the priest told them the answer. Then said they, "We are beaten, the victory rests with you". "What will you do now?" he asked. "Our parents", they replied, "admonished us thus" : 'if you are refuted in disputation by a layman, you are to become his wives, but, if by a priest, you are to receive orders at his hands'-- *Therefore', said they, "admit us to the religious life." The priest readily assented and ordained them in the house of the nun called Uppalavanna. And all of them shortly attaired Sainthood. Then one day they started the topic in the Hall of Truth how that Sariputta proved a refuge to the four female ascetics, and that through him they all attained to Sainthood. When the master came and heard the nature of their discourse, he said, "Not now only, but in former times too, Sariputta proved a refuge to these women. On this occasion he dedicated them to the religious life, but formerly he raised them to the dignity of queen consorts". Then he told them an old-world story. Jataka No. 465 is Bhadda-sala Jaraka narrated by the Buddha in Jetavana. King Bimbisara's Commander-in-Chief was a man named
