No. 37.
TITTIRA JĀTAKA.
The Partridge, Monkey, and Elephant.
"'Tis those who reverence the aged." — This the Master told on the road to Sāvatthi about Sāriputta being kept out of a night's lodging.
For when Anātha Piṇḍika had finished his monastery, and sent word to the Teacher, the latter left Rājagaha and arrived at Vesali; and after resting there a short time, he set out again on the road to Sāvatthi.[1]
On that occasion the pupils of the Six went on in front, and before lodgings had been taken for the Elders, occupied all the places to be had, saying, —
"This is for our superior, this for our instructor, and these for us."
The Elders who came up afterwards found no place to sleep in. Even Sāriputta's pupils sought in vain for a lodging-place for the Elder. So the Elder having no lodging passed the night either walking up and down, or sitting at the foot of a tree, not far from the place where the Teacher was lodged.
In the early morning the Teacher came out and coughed. The Elder coughed too. "Who's there?" said the Teacher.
"'Tis I, Lord; Sāriputta," was the reply.
- ↑ See above, p. 130.
