with humbled heart and subdued presence, putting off his common ornaments, descending from his chariot, forward he stepped; even as Sakra, king of gods, going to where Brahmadeva-raga dwells.  Bowing down at Buddha’s feet, he asked him, with respect, about his health of body; Buddha in his turn, having made inquiries, begged him to be seated on one side.  Then the king’s mind reflected silently:—­“This Sakya must have great controlling power, to subject to his will these Kasyapas who now are round him as disciples.”  Buddha, knowing all thoughts, spoke thus to Kasyapa, questioning him:—­“What profit have you found in giving up your fire-adoring law?” Kasyapa hearing Buddha’s words, rising with dignity before the great assembly, bowed lowly down, and then with clasped hands and a loud voice addressing Buddha, said:—­“The profit I received, adoring the fire spirit, was this—­continuance in the wheel of life, birth and death, with all their sorrows growing—­this service I have therefore cast away.  Diligently I persevered in fire-worship, seeking to put an end to the five desires, in return I found desires endlessly increasing:  therefore have I cast off this service.  Sacrificing thus to fire with many Mantras, I did but miss escape from birth; receiving birth, with it came all its sorrows, therefore I cast it off and sought for rest.  I was versed, indeed, in self-affliction, my mode of worship largely adopted, and counted of all most excellent, and yet I was opposed to highest wisdom.  Therefore have I discarded it, and gone in quest of the supreme Nirvana.  Removing from me birth, old age, disease, and death, I sought a place of undying rest and calm.  And as I gained the knowledge of this truth, then I cast off the law of worshipping the fire.”

The honored-of-the-world, hearing Kasyapa declaring his experience of truth, wishing to move the world throughout to conceive a heart of purity and faith, addressing Kasyapa further, said:  “Welcome! great master, welcome!  Rightly have you distinguished law from law, and well obtained the highest wisdom; now before this great assembly, pray you! exhibit your excellent endowments; as any rich and wealthy noble opens for view his costly treasures, causing the poor and sorrow-laden multitude to increase their forgetfulness awhile; and honor well your lord’s instruction.”  Forthwith in presence of the assembly, gathering up his body and entering Samadhi, calmly he ascended into space, and there displayed himself, walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, emitting fiery vapor from his body, on his right and left side water and fire, not burning and not moistening him.  Then clouds and rain proceeded from him, thunder with lightning shook the heaven and earth; thus he drew the world to look in adoration, with eyes undazzled as they gazed; with different mouths, but all in language one, they magnified and praised this wondrous spectacle, then afterwards drawn by spiritual force, they came and worshipped at the master’s feet, exclaiming:—­“Buddha