Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Kuru and the city called Indapatta, was reigning a king Koravya, of the stock of Yuddhitthila. His adviser in things temporal and spiritual was a minister named Vidhura. The king, with his great almsgiving, set all India in a commotion; but amongst all those who received and enjoyed these gifts, not one there was who kept so much as the Five Virtues; all were wicked to a man, and the king’s giving brought him no satisfaction. The king thought, “Great is the fruit of discriminate giving;” and being desirous to give unto the virtuous, he determined to take counsel with the wise Vidhura. When, therefore, Vidhura came to wait on him, the king put a question to him.

Explaining this, the Master recited half the first stanza. All the rest are question and answer of the king and Vidhura.

The righteous King Yudhitthila once asked Vidhura wise:

“Vidhura, seek me Brahmins good, in whom much wisdom lies:

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So I would give my friend that I may reap a crop of good.”

“It is hard to find such holy men, such Brahmins, wise and good,

Who keep them spotless from all lust, that they may eat our food.

Of brahmins, O most mighty king, ten several kinds are there:

Listen, while I distinguish them,and all these kinds declare.

Some carry sacks upon their backs, root-filled and fastened tight;

They gather healing herbs, they bathe, and magic spells recite.

These are physician-like, O king, and Brahmins too they hight:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

“Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“Some carry bells and go before, and as they go they ring,

A chariot they can drive with skill, and messages can bring:

These are like servants, mighty king, and Brahmins too they hight:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

“Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“With waterpot and crooked staff some run to meet the king,

Through all the towns and villages, and as they follow, sing–

In wood or town we never budge, until a gift you bring!

Like tax-men these importunate, and brahmins too they height:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“Some with long nails and hairy limbs, foul teeth, and matted hair,

Covered with dust and dirt-begrimed as beggar-men they fare:

Hewers of wood, O mighty king! and brahmins too they hight:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

“Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“My robolan and vilva fruit, rose-apple, mangoes ripe,

The labuj-fruit and planks of wood, tooth-brush and smoking-pipe,

Sugar-cane baskets, honey sweet, and ointment too, O king,

All these they make their trafick in, and many another thing.

These are like merchants, O great king, and brahmins too they hight:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“Some follow trade and husbandry, keep flocks of goats in fold,

They give and take in marriage, and their daughters sell for gold.

Like Vessa and Ambattha these; and brahmins they too height:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“Some chaplains fortunes tell, or geld and mark a beast for pay:

With proffered food the village folk invite them oft to stay.

There kine and bullocks, swine and goats are slaughtered many a day.

Like butchers baseare these, O king, and brahmins too they height:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“Some brahmins, armed with sword and shield, with battle-axe in hand,

Ready to guide a caravan before the merchants stand.

Like herdmen these, or bandits bold, yet brahmins too they hight:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“Some build them huts and lay them traps in any woodland place,

Catch fish and tortoises, the hare, wild-cat and lizard chase.

Hunters are these, O mighty king, and brahmins they too hight:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

“Others for love of gold lie down beneath the royal bed,

At soma-sacrifice: the kingsbathing above their head.

These are like barbers? O great king, but brahmins too they hight:

Such brahmins shall we seek for, now you know this kind aright?”

King Koravya said:

“These have no right to such a name: lost is their brahminhood:

Vidhura, find me other men who shall be wise and good,

Men free from deeds of evil lust, that they may eat my food:

So would I give, that I myself may reap a crop of good.”

Thus having described those who are brahmins in name only, he went on to describe the brahmins in the highest sense:

“But there are brahmins, too, my lord, men very wise and good,

Free from the deeds of evil lust to eat your offered food.

One only meal of rice they eat: strong drink they never touch:

And now you know this kind aright, say shall we look for such?”

When the king heard his words, he asked “Where, friend Vidhura, where dwell these brahmins, worthy of the best things?” “In the further Himalaya, O king, in a cave of Mount Nanda.” “Then, wise sir, bring me those brahmins here, by our power.”

The Great Being agreed to do as he was requested, adding this: “Now, O king! send the drum beating about the city, to proclaim that the city must be gloriously adorned, and all the people of it must give alms, and undertake the holy-day vows, and pledge themselves to virtue; and you with all your court must take the holy-day vows upon you.”

Himself at early dawn, having taken his meal, and taken the holy-day vows, at eventide he sent for a basket of the colour of jasmine, and together with the monarch made a salutation with the full prostration, and he called to memory the virtues of the Pacceka Buddhas, uttering these words: “Let the five hundred Pacceka Buddhas who dwell in Northern Himalaya, in the cave of Mount Nanda, to-morrow partake of our food!” He cast eight handfuls of flowers into the air. At once these flowers fell upon the five hundred Pecceka Buddhas, in the place where they lived. They pondered, and understood the fact, and accepted the invitation, saying, “Reverend Sirs, we are invited by the wise Vidhura, and no mean creature is he; he has the seed of a Buddha within him, and in this very cycle a Buddha he will be. Let us show him favour.” The Great Being understood that they would comply, by token that the flowers did not return. Then he said, “O great king! to-morrow the Pacceka Buddhas will come; do them honour and worship.” Next day the king did them great honour, preparing precious seats for them upon a great dais. The Pacceka Buddhas, in Lake Anotatta, having waited for the time when their bodily needs were seen to, travelled through the air and descended in the royal courtyard. The king and the Bodhisatta, faith in their hearts, received the bowls from their hands, and caused them to come up on the terrace, seated them, gave them the gift-water into their hands, and served them with food hard and soft most delightful.

After the meal, he invited them for the next day, and so on for seven days following, presenting them with many gifts, and on the seventh day he gave them all the requisites. Then they gave him thanks, and passing through the air returned to the same place, and the requisites also went with them.