The Rebirth of Prince Payasi and the Venerable Gavampati : หน้า 84/130

33 Now at that time the venerable Gavampati15 used frequently to go for siesta to the empty mansion of the Acacia. And Payasi, now one of the gods, came up to him and, saluting him, stood on one side. To him so standing the venerable Gavampati said :- ' Who art thou, friend ? ' ' I, sir, am prince Payasi. ' Wert thou not once of the opinion that there was no other world, no rebirth other than of parents, no fruit or result of deeds well or ill - done ? ' ' I was indeed, sir, but through his reverence Kumara Kassapa I detached myself from that evil set of opinions. ' ' But the youth Uttara, who objected to thy gift, friend, whereunto has he been reborn ? ' ' He, Sir, having objected to my gift, and having himself bestowed a gift thoroughly, with his own hands, with due thought, not as something discarded, has, since he died, been reborn in the bright and happy world, into the communion of the Three - and - Thirty Gods. I, sir, inasmuch as I bestowed my gift without thoroughness, not with my own hand, without due thought, as something discarded, was after my death reborn into the communion of the Four Great Kings, in the empty mansion of Acacia. 15 He had been the son of a merchant at Benares ; and had been received into the Order by the Buddha at the very beginning of his career as a teacher (Vin.I,19). This legend supposes him, still a man, going for meditation to the lower heavens.