[399] Other trees, once strong of root and rich in branches, plainly show
How the seeds that birds do carry in destruction lay them low.

Parasitic growths will bury e'en the mighty forest tree:
This is why, O king, I quiver when the fear to come I see.

Hearing the tree-spirit's words, the roc-king spoke the final stanza:--

Fear is right if things are fearful: 'gainst the coming danger guard:
Wise men look on both worlds calmly if they present fears discard.

So speaking, the roc-king by his power drove the bird away from that tree.

After the lesson, the Master declared the Truths, beginning with the words: "It is right to distrust where distrust is proper," and identified the Birth:--after the Truths [400] five hundred Brethren were established in Sainthood:--"At that time Sariputta was the roc-king and I myself the tree-spirit."

Footnotes

^239:1 Compare No. 370, supra.

^239:2 Not known.