my husband depart. Why should I, being left alone, not follow them?" (36)

When the queen had heard that the Purohita with his wife and sons had entered the order, abandoning pleasures and all his large property, she spoke to the king: (37)

'A man who returns, as it were,. to the vomit, is not praised; but you want to confiscate the property left by the Brahmana. (38)

'If the whole world and all treasures were yours, you would still not be satisfied, nor would all this be able to save you. (39)

'Whenever you die, O king, and leave all pleasant things behind, the Law alone, and nothing else in this world, will save you, O monarch. (40)

'As a bird dislikes the cage, so do I (dislike the world). I shall live as a nun, without offspring, poor, upright, without desire, without love of gain, and without hatred. (42)

'As when by a conflagration of a forest animals are burned, other beasts greatly rejoice, being under the influence of love and hate; even so we, fools that we are, being attached to pleasure, do not perceive that the world is consumed by the fire of love and hatred. (42, 43)

'Those who have enjoyed pleasures, and have renounced them, move about like the wind, and go wherever they please, like the birds unchecked in their flight. (44)

'When they are caught, and held by my hand,

sir, they struggle; we shall be like them, if we are attached to pleasures. (45)

'As an unbaited (bird) sees a baited one caught in the snare, even so shall we avoid every bait and walk about, not baited by anything. (46)

'Being aware that pleasures are causes for the continuance of worldly existence, as illustrated in (the above) similes of the greedy man, one should be cautious and stir as little as possible, like a snake in the presence of Suparna. (47)

'Like an elephant who has broken his fetters, go to your proper destination. O great king Ishukari; this is the wholesome truth I have learned. (48)

'Leave your large kingdom and the pleasures which are so dear to all; abandon what pleases the senses, and what attracts; be without attachment and property; learn thoroughly the Law and give up all amusements; then practise famous and severe penance, being of firm energy .' (49, 50)

In this way all (these) professors of the Law gradually obtained enlightenment, being frightened by birth and death, and seeking for the end of misery. (51)

Their doubts about the true doctrine were dispersed, and they realised the Bhavanas ; in a short time they reached the end of misery. (52)

The king and the queen, the Brahmanical Purohita, his wife, and his sons, they all reached perfection. (53)

Thus I say.

Footnotes

^62:1 In Prakrit Usuyara (or Isuyara). According to the Prakrit legend given in the commentary it was in the Kuru country.