“Certainly, I did it.”
“And what for?”
“Simply to put a stop to your almsgiving, and destroy the life of that Pacceka Buddha!”
“And I’ll allow you to do neither the one nor the other. Let us see this day whether your power or mine is the greater!” And still standing on the edge of the pit of fire, he exclaimed—
“My Lord, the Pacceka Buddha! I will not turn back from this pit of coal, though I should fall into it headlong. Take now at my hands the food I have bestowed, even the whole of it.” And so saying, he uttered the stanza:
“Far rather will I fall into this hell
Head downwards, and heels upwards, of my own
Accord, than do a deed that is unworthy!
Receive then, Master, at my hands, this alms!”
And as he so said, he held the dish of rice with a firm grasp, and walked right on into the fiery furnace!