Coomaraswamy, Ananda Kentish: Buddha and the gospel of buddhism (London, 1916)

Buddha & the Gospel of Buddhism
begging his food from door to door, with shaven hair and
beard, and clad in russet robes ? ” And she reported the
matter to the king. He, instantly rising, went forth to
remonstrate with his son, that thus he put the Sakya clan
to shame. “ Do you think it impossible,” said he, “that
we should provide meals for all your followers?” “It
is our custom, O king!” was the reply. “Not so,
Master,” said the king; “not one of all our ancestors has
ever begged his food.” “ O king,” replied the Buddha,
“ thy descent is in the succession of kings, but mine in
the succession of the Buddhas: and every one of these
has begged his daily food, and lived upon alms.”
And standing in the middle of the street he uttered the
verse:
A rise and delay not, follow after the pure life !
Who follows virtue rests in bliss, alike in this
world and the next.
And when the verse was finished the king attained to the
Fruit of the First Path. Then the Buddha continued:
Follow after the pure life, follow not after sin !
Who follows virtue rests in bliss alike in this
world and the next.
And the king attained to the Fruit of the Second Path.
Then the Buddha recited the Dhammapala Jataka, and
the king attained to the Fruit of the Third Path. It was
when he was dying that the king attained to Arahatta:
he never practised the Great Effort in solitude.
Now as soon as the king had experienced the Fruit of
Conversion, he took the Buddha’s bowl and led the Blessed
One and all his followers to the palace, and served them
with savoury food.
48