offices for them, did so with the hope of being hereafter bo the world as men in eminent and wealthy positions.

Then Bodhisatwa rejoined-"That men should practice modes of self-inflicted pain for the purpose of securing su turns! Sad! sad! What ignorance and what delusion!inconstancy and unrest !-to suffer, and then to be born aga suffer! These foolish men are like those who thrust thems into a fire, or willingly enter the jaws of some devouring serp

Thus it was Bôdhisatwa discoursed with wise and choice sĮ in the company of these Rishis, and so discoursing, the tin sunset approached. Then Bôdhisatwa, returning to the abo the Rishi who had first addressed him, remained there that n On the morrow, at sunrise, all those Rishis followed him a went from place to place. Bôdhisatwa, perceiving them thu lowing him, immediately selected a certain tree, and sat down neath its shade, whilst they came up, and some sat and ot stood surrounding him. Amongst them there was one very an and venerable Rishi, who had conceived in his heart a grea spect for Bôdhisatwa, and addressed him thus-" Venerable si Royal birth! from the time you came amongst us the plac which we dwell seemed to be filled with a self-born pleasant but now you have gone it seems like a wilderness. Oh! w that your reverence might be persuaded not to forsake our pany. For, indeed, all those who seek for birth in heaven c here to practice their religious duties, and in a short time at their wish by going to heaven. Venerable sir! you should leave the place where so many holy men in days gone by b carried out their daily duties;" and so the Gâtha says,

"Venerable sir! this wood of ours that was so pleasant,
Now you have left it becomes suddenly like a desert;
For this reason, then, turn not your back nor leave us,
As a man who loves life, desires to preserve his body."

Then all the Rishis added their requests that, if Bôdhisa

is explaine

ceries, and performed these various
e hope of being hereafter born in
d wealthy positions.
“That men should practice these
the purpose of securing such re-
orance and what delusion!—what
fer, and then to be born again to
like those who thrust themselves
jaws of some devouring serpent!"
ursed with wise and choice speech
, and so discoursing, the time of
satwa, returning to the abode of
d him, remained there that night.
those Rishis followed him as he
nisatwa, perceiving them thus fol-
I a certain tree, and sat down be-
e up, and some sat and others
them there was one very ancient
nceived in his heart a great re-
sed him thus-" Venerable sir, of
came amongst us the place in
ed with a self-born pleasantness,
like a wilderness. Oh! would
rsuaded not to forsake our com-
seek for birth in heaven come
es, and in a short time attain
Venerable sir! you should not
oly men in days gone by have
I so the Gâtha says,

s that was so pleasant,
ddenly like a desert;
your back nor leave us,
to preserve his body."

requests that, if Bôdhisatwa

be so; for although his mind was would be no peace for him in the p must go elsewhere and seek for a m while," said he, "follow out your s and by your religious practices may born in heaven!"

Then an old Brahmachari, who ashes, and wearing the polluted g bleared, his nose long, his body s hermit's water-pot (kwan, kundik speak, addressed him thus-" Vi high one; and if you are so purpos hence there lives a Rishi whose nan great renown for wisdom. Repair receive his instructions, "and may and arrive at the condition of Perf seek."

To whom Bodhisatwa replied " be so-even as you say!"

So it was Bôdhisatwa left the co tened on to the spot where dwelt A "The holy king-born son of the gr

Having conversed in lucid speech
Resolved with fixed mind to go of
And to return to the Rishis when

The King's messeng

§ 3. At this time the two messen with pity for the king, immediate chariot from Kapilavastu to trac Thus, by degrees, they came to t

awhile, the Rishi employed every means to alleviate their f Then the two messengers explained the object of their journ said, "We are the ministers of Suddhôdana Râja, of the Iks race, whose only son Siddartha, through a terror of bir death, disease, and old age, has left his home for the pur] searching after complete deliverance; and having heard way that he had tarried in this place, we have come to inq you about him.”

Then the Rishi answered the two messengers, and said— true what you have heard; that eminent person did sto with us, and having asked various questions, and being dissa with our religious system, has now gone onwards towar abode of the Rishi Alara;" and so the Gâtha says

"The aspirant after complete merit,

Having come here, and being dissatisfied with our doctr
Desiring to find complete Nirvâna,

Leaving us, has now gone on to the abode of Alara."

The two messengers having heard this, being anxious to ful king's commands, without any delay, either to partake of th fruit, or to drink the cool water of the place, set out after Bôd wa, and gradually advancing, they saw him sitting beneath a t the midst of a grove, and resting. His body, bereft of all its j nevertheless emitted a soft and dazzling light, like the bea the sun piercing through a dark cloud, and spread all aroun brightness of its glory. The two messengers, immediatel scending from their chariot, approached towards Bôdhisatwa respectfully saluted him, and said, "May every prosperity a you, sacred youth;" and then they stood before Bôdhisatwa this time Bôdhisatwa, having spoken to them kindly, invited to sit down by his side. Being so seated, they addressed hin said "Your Royal Father, overcome with grief at your depa has sent us to beseech you not to enter on your religious life i desert mountains without some further trial. We beseech you, t fore, return with us to our abodes, and take possession of

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