Buddha met three Kashyapa <br />Brothers at City Uruvela. <br />They worshipped Agni (fire) daily. <br />People respected them religiously. <br /> <br />Buddha met the eldest one. <br />He asked him permission <br />To spend the night time <br />In the sacred fire room. <br /> <br />Kashyapa, in fear, said, <br />“Don’t stay there, I’m afraid, <br />A serpent there will bite you, <br />And it’s dangerous for you.” <br /> <br />“Don’t worry, ” he replied, <br />“I’ll not be killed. <br />Have no fear. <br />Let me stay there.” <br /> <br />Kashyapa then allowed him <br />In that sacred fire room. <br />Buddha spent the night <br />In Meditation sitting upright. <br /> <br />The serpent came to bite <br />But it saw love in his sight <br />And went back to its place <br />Without leaving any trace. <br /> <br />Next day, the host saw <br />Buddha alive, with awe, <br />And honored the guest, <br />Thereafter with full respect. <br /> <br />To participate in a festival, <br />There came many people. <br />He felt, Buddha was a nuisance, <br />And he might lose importance. <br /> <br />His feelings, Buddha understood <br />And somewhere disappeared. <br />After the festival was over <br />Back Buddha came there. <br /> <br />When Kashyapa asked <br />Buddha coolly replied, <br />“Since you never wanted me here <br />I was hiding myself somewhere.” <br /> <br />Kashyapa was surprised, <br />“How could Buddha read <br />Inside my mind so easily. <br />A mind-reader, he’s really.” <br /> <br />“Envy is not holy, ” Buddha told. <br />Such occult powers, he possessed. <br />Kashyapa Brothers then realized. <br />As monks in Sangha, they joined.<br /><br />Rajaram Ramachandran<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/buddha-18-envy-was-not-holy/
