43. Lecture 8, Lesson 3

1Always well guarded, he bore the pains (caused by) grass, cold, fire, flies, and gnats; manifold pains. (1)

2He travelled in the pathless country of the Lāḍhas, in Vajjabhūmi and Subbhabhūmi[1]; he used there miserable beds and miserable seats. (2)

3In Lāḍha (happened) to him many dangers. Many natives attacked him. Even in the faithful part of the rough country[2] the dogs bit him, ran at him. (3)

4Few people kept off the attacking, biting dogs. Striking the monk, they cried ‘Chucchū,’ and made the dogs bite him. (4)

5Such were the inhabitants. Many other mendicants, eating rough food in Vajjabhūmi, and carrying about a strong pole or a stalk (to keep off the dogs), lived there. (5)

6Even thus armed they were bitten by the dogs, torn by the dogs. It is difficult to travel in Lāḍha. (6) Ceasing to use the stick (i.e. cruelty) against living beings, abandoning the care of the body, the houseless (Mahāvīra), the Venerable One, endures the thorns of the villages (i.e. the abusive language of the peasants), (being) perfectly enlightened. (7)

7As an elephant at the head of the battle, so was Mahāvīra there victorious. Sometimes he did not reach a village there in Lāḍha. (8)

8When he who is free from desires approached the village, the inhabitants met him on the outside, and attacked him, saying, ‘Get away from here.’ (9)

9He was struck with a stick, the fist, a lance, hit with a fruit, a clod, a potsherd. Beating him again and again, many cried. (10)

10When he once (sat) without moving his body, they cut his flesh[3], tore his hair under pains, or covered him with dust. (11)

11Throwing him up, they let him fall, or disturbed him in his religious postures; abandoning the care of his body, the Venerable One humbled himself and bore pain, free from desire. (1 2)

12As a hero at the head of the battle is surrounded on all sides[4], so was there Mahāvīra. Bearing all hardships, the Venerable One, undisturbed, proceeded (on the road to Nirvāṇa). (13)

13This is the rule which has often been followed, &c.

14Vajrabhūmi and Śubhrabhūmi (or Śvabhrabhūmi) are, according to the commentaries, the two divisions of Lāḍha. I think that Lāḍha may be identical with the classical Rāḍhā or western Bengal and the Lāla of the Buddhists, the native country of Vijaya, the legendary conqueror of Ceylon. Subbhabhūmi is probably the country of the Suhmas, who are also identified with the Rāḍhas.

15The commentator seems to understand the words lukkhadesie bhatte in the sense: There the living also was rough; for they used clothes of grass instead of cotton.