Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana. - Buddha and his dhamma,

:: 3. Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana. ::
1. While the Blessed Lord was in Rajagraha there resided a well-known person by name Sanjaya with a great retinue of Parivrajakas numbering about two hundred and fifty as his disciples. 
2. Among his disciples were Sariputta and Moggallana—two young Brahmins. 
3. Sariputta and Moggallana were not satisfied with the teachings of Sanjaya and were in search of something better. 
4. Now one day the venerable Assaji, one of the Panchvargiya Bhikkus, in the forenoon, having put on his under-robes, and having taken his alms bowl and outer robe, entered the city of Rajagraha for alms.
5. Sariputta was observing the dignified deportment of Assaji and was struck by it. On seeing the venerable Assaji, Sariputta thought, "Indeed this person is one of those monks who are the worthy ones in the world. What if I were to approach this monk and to ask him : 'In whose name, friend, have you retired from the world? Who is your teacher? Whose Dhamma do you profess ?' " 
6. Now Sariputta thought : " This is not the time to ask this monk ; he has entered the inner yard of a house for alms. What if I were to follow this monk step by step, according to the course recognised by those who want something ? " 
7. And the venerable Assaji, having finished his alms pilgrimage through Rajagraha, went back with the food he had received. Then Sariputta went to the place where the venerable Assaji was ; having approached him, he exchanged greetings and with complaisant words, he stood at his side. 
8. Standing at his side the wandering ascetic Sariputta said to the venerable Assaji: " Your countenance, friend, is serene; your complexion is pure and bright. In whose name, friend, have you retired from the world? Who is your teacher? Whose Dhamma do you profess ? "
9. Assaji replied : " There is, friend, the great recluse of the Sakya's clan ; in this Blessed One's name, have I retired from the world ; this Blessed One is my teacher, and it is the Dhamma of this Blessed One that I follow."
"And what, venerable Sir, is the doctrine which your teacher holds ? And what does he preach to you?"
11. "I am only a young disciple, friend ; I have but recently received ordination ; and I have newly adopted this Dhamma and discipline. I cannot explain to you the Dhamma in detail ; but I will tell you in short what it means." 
12. Then Sariputta, the wandering ascetic, said to the venerable Assaji : " So be it, friend, tell me as much or as little as you like, but tell me the meaning, I want just meaning. Why make so much of the letter?" 13. Then the venerable Assaji explained to Sariputta the substance of the teachings of the Buddha and Sariputta was completely satisfied. 
14. Sariputta and Moggallana, though not brothers, were bound together as hough they were brothers. They had given their word to each other. He who first attains the truth shall tell the same to the other one. That was their mutual engagement. 
15. Accordingly Sariputta went to the place where Moggallana was. Seeing him, he said to Sariputta : " Your countenance, friend, is serene ; your complexion is pure and bright. Have you then really reached the truth ? " 16. " Yes, friend, I have come to know the truth." " And how, friend, have you done so ? " Then Sariputta told him what happened between him and Assaji.
17. Then Moggallana said to Sariputta, " Let us go, friend, and join the Blessed One ; that he, the Blessed One, may be our teacher." 
18. Sariputta replied : " It is on our account, friend, that these two hundred and fifty wandering Parivrajakas live here, and it is we whom they regard ; let us first tell them before taking leave of them ; they will do what they think fit." 
19. Then Sariputta and Moggallana went to the place where they were ; having approached them they said to them, " Friends, we are going to join the Blessed One ; he, the Blessed One, is our teacher." 
20. They replied : "It is on your account. Sirs, that we live here, and it is you whom we regard ; if you. Sirs, will lead the holy life under the great Samana, we all will do the same."
21. Then Sariputta and Moggallana went to the place where Sanjaya was ; having approached him, they said : " Friend, we go to join the Blessed One ; he, the Blessed One, is our teacher." 
22. Sanjaya replied : "Nay, friends, do not go ; we will all three look after this company." 
23. And a second and third time Sariputta and Moggallana said this and Sanjaya answered as before. 
24. Then Sariputta and Moggallana took with them two hundred and fifty wandering ascetics and went to the Veluvana in Rajagraha where the Blessed One was staying. 
25. And the Blessed One saw them—Sariputta and Moggallana, coming from afar : on seeing them he thus addressed the monks: "There, monks, arrive two companions," pointing towards Sariputta and Moggallana, "these will be my chief pair of disciples, and auspicious pair." 
26. When they had arrived at the bamboo grove, they went to the place where the Blessed One was ; having approached him, they prostrated themselves, with their heads at the feet of the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One : " Lord, let us receive ordination from the Blessed One." 
27. The Blessed One then uttered the usual formula indicating dmission, " Ehi Bhikku " (Come Monks), and Sariputta and Moggallana and the two hundred Jatilas became the disciples of the Buddha."