(20) THE BUDDHA TAMING THE DRAGON IN THE FIRE-SHED WITH HIS SUPERNATURAL POWER

After sending forth the Arahants to preach, the Blessed One went to Uruvela to convert a thousand hermits headed by the three Kassapa brothers known as Uruvela Kassapa, Nadi Kassapa and Gaya Kassapa. The Buddha tamed the King of the Dragons in a fire-shed by using a variety of his supernatural powers. The thousand hermits became monks and with this retinue, the Blessed One proceeded to Gayasisa. On arrival there he preached to them again and they all became arahants. The Buddha went from there to Rajagaha accompanied by those monks and dwelt in the Toddy Palm Grove. King Bimbisara went there with a large following of 120,000 persons to pay his respects to the Buddha. As the ascetic Kassapa was held in high esteem by his people, he was at a loss to understand whether the Buddha was a disciple of Kassapa or the latter was a disciple of the former. The Venerable Kassapa knew this and placing his head upon the Buddha's feet acknowledged the Buddha's superiority, saying, "My teacher, Lord, is the Lord, I am the disciple" repeatedly.