NINTH LECTURE.

THE PRAVRAGYA OF KING NAMI .

After (Nami) had descended from the world of the gods, and had been born as a man, he put an end to the influence of delusion, and remembered his former birth. (1)

Remembering his former birth, king Nami

became a Svayamsambuddha in the true Law, and placing his son on the throne he retired from the world. (2)

After having enjoyed, in the company of the beautiful ladies of his seraglio, excellent pleasures which match those of the heavens, king Nami became enlightened and gave up his pleasures. (3)

Having given up the town and country of Mithila, his army, seraglio, and all his retinue, the venerable man retired from the world and resorted to a lonely place. (4)

When the royal Seer Nami retired from the world, at the occasion of his Pravragya there was an uproar in Mithila. (5)

To the royal Seer who had reached the excellent stage of Pravragya, Sakra in the guise of a Brahmana addressed the following words: (6)

'Why is now Mithila full of uproar? Dreadful noises are heard from palaces and houses.' (7)

On hearing this, the royal Seer Nami, pursuing his reasons and arguments, answered the king of the gods thus: (8)

'In Mithila is the sacred tree Manorama, full of leaves, flowers, and fruits, which sheds a cool shadow; this tree is always a favourite resort of many (birds). (9)

'Now, as this sacred tree Manorama is shaken by the storm, the birds, suffering, destitute of refuge, and miserable, scream aloud.' (10)

On hearing this, the king of gods, pursuing his reasons and arguments, answered the royal Seer Nami thus: (11)

"This is fire and storm, your palace is on fire! Reverend sir, why do you not look after your seraglio?" (12)

Nami answered (see verse 8): (13)

'Happy are we, happy live we who call nothing our own; when Mithila is on fire, nothing is burned that belongs to me. (14)

To a monk who has left his sons and wives, and who has ceased to act, nothing pleasant can occur, nor anything unpleasant. (15)

'There is much happiness for the sage, for the houseless monk, who is free from all ties, and knows himself to be single and unconnected (with the rest of the world).' (16)

Indra answered (see verse 11): (17)

"Erect a wall, gates, and battlements; dig a moat; construct sataghnis : then you will be a Kshattriya." (18)

Nami answered (see verse 8): (19)

'Making Faith his fortress, Penance and Self-control the bolt (of its gate), Patience its strong wall, so that guarded in three ways it is impregnable; making Zeal his bow, its string Carefulness in walking (iriya), and its top (where the string is