The Buddha meets King Bimbisara

With His large retinue of Arahant disciples, the Buddha, in accordance with the promise He made to King Bimbisara before His Enlightenment, proceeded to Rajagaha.

The king, hearing of His arrival in his kingdom, went with a large following 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 Buddha, reading his thought, questioned Kassapa as to why he abandoned fire-worship.

Then the venerable Kassapa acknowledged the Buddha’s superiority, saying:

"My teacher, Lord, is the Lord: I am the disciple. My teacher, Lord, is the Lord: I am the disciple."

The devout people were pleased to hear of the conversion. The Buddha thereupon preached the Maha Narada Kassapa Jataka to show that they were similarly converted in a previous birth. The ‘Eye of Truth’ arose in them all. King Bimbisara attained Sotapatti. Thereupon the king invited the Buddha and His followers to his palace for the meal. At the close of the meal on the following day the king offered his Bamboo Grove (Veluvanarama) for the use of the Buddha and His disciples.