44 The Merchant Vaddhana

King Pasenadi asks about the merit of making Buddha-images. The Buddha recounts how the merchant Vaddhana, seeing a broken Buddha-image in an abandoned monastery, repaired its finger, offered lamps and banners, and worshipped it. Sakka praised his merit and showered jewels. The Buddha explains that making Buddha-images brings beauty, wealth, long life, and eventual Nibbāna.