by Sarah Shaw
The Great Being replied: 23.‘O, enough of kingdom, of relatives, or of wealth,
since my kingdom would only be obtained through wrong behaviour, charioteer.’
The charioteer replied: 24. ‘When you go from here you will get a full cup for me, O prince.
At your return your mother and father will be generous to me.
25. Ladies of the court, princes, merchants and Brahmins,
delighted at your return, will be generous to me, O prince.
26. Mahouts, bodyguards, charioteers and foot soldiers,
pleased at your return, will be generous to me, O prince.
27. A crowd of country people, and people from the city too, will meet together.
They will be generous with presents when you return, O prince.’
[16] The Great Being replied:
28. ‘I have been given up by my father and mother,
and by all the princes too, deprived of kingdom 36 and the city.
I do not have any home of my own.
29. My mother acquiesced; my father cast me off.
I am a recluse in the forest, and do not wish for sense pleasures.’
In this way joy arose in the Great Being as he brought to mind his own excellencies, 37 and, moved by joy, he gave an ecstatic utterance:
30. ‘Truly, for those who are not in a hurry, it is the aspiration for good that succeeds. 38
Know this, charioteer, as for me the holy life is fully ripe.
31. Even the highest aim ripens for those who are not in a hurry.
For me the holy life is fully ripe, and, having renounced,
I have nothing to fear, anywhere!’
The charioteer said:
32. ‘In this way your speech is beautiful and your words friendly.
Why did you not speak when you were with your father and mother?’
Then the Great Being said:
33. ‘I was not a cripple without the use of thighs, or deaf through lack of hearing.
I was not dumb through lack of a tongue; do not take me as dumb!
34.I remember a former birth where I ruled a kingdom,
And when I had ruled the kingdom, because of the evil I had done,
I fell into a terrible hell.
35.For twenty years I ruled a kingdom,
But for eighty-four thousand I roasted in hell.
36. [17] I am terrified of kingship, and being anointed in kingship.
Because of this I did not talk when with my father and mother.
37. When my father placed me on his lap he gave orders:
“Kill that one! Imprison that one! Torture with wounds and caustic substances!
Impale that one on a spike! 39 This is what he ordered.
38. When I heard this harsh speech uttered by him,
although not dumb, in the guise of dumbness,
although not crippled, in the guise of a cripple,
I lay, completely sodden in my own urine and faeces.
39. Who would come to this life, so miserable, short
and connected with suffering, and do harm to anyone?
40. Who, through not knowing wisdom and not seeing justice,
would come to this life and do harm to anyone?
41. Truly to those who are not in a hurry, the desire for fruit succeeds.
I am living the fully ripe, holy life: know this, charioteer.
42. Truly to those who are not in a hurry even the highest aim ripens.
I am living the fully ripe holy life, and having renounced, have nothing to fear, anywhere.’
[18] Sunanda heard this and thought, ‘This prince has thrown away royal splendour such as this as if it were a corpse. He entered the wood, not breaking his resolve to become an ascetic. What meaning is there for me in this miserable life? I’ll go with him and become an ascetic too.’ And he spoke this verse:
43.‘I’ll become an ascetic, prince, with you.
Summon me, dear sir, for it is the going forth that pleases me.’
When the Great Being was beseeched by him in this way he thought, ‘If I make him become an ascetic now my mother and father will not come here, and they will lose out. The horses, the chariot, the garments will be destroyed and blame will come to me: they will think, “He is a yakkha, he must have eaten the charioteer.’ Considering how to extricate himself from blame and to provide for his parents’ welfare he gave the horses, chariot and adornments to the charioteer and spoke this verse:
44.‘Go, charioteer, and take the chariot back, as you are not free from debt.
Going forth is for the one who is free from debt; this is praised by wise men.’
When he heard this the charioteer thought, ‘If, when I have gone to the city, he goes anywhere else, his father will hear the news, ask me to show him his son, come here and not lay eyes on him: then he’ll punish me. Because of this I’ll explain the situation myself and extract a promise from the prince.’ And he said two verses:
45. ‘Just as I have done what you have asked,
so you, dear sir, requested by me, could do what I ask.
46. Please stay right here while I bring the king.
And then when your father has seen you he’ll be happy and delighted.’
[19] Then the Great Being said:
47. ‘Charioteer, I’ll do what you ask of me.
I would also like to see my father coming here.
48. Go, sir: return and wish health to my relatives.
Give greetings from me to my mother and father.’
The charioteer accepted the instruction.
49. The charioteer clasped him by the feet and paid homage to him.
He mounted the carriage and went up to the palace gate.
At that moment Queen Canda opened her window and asked, ‘What news is there of my son?’ She looked at the charioteer returning on the road and when she saw that he came back alone she grieved.
In explanation the Teacher said:
50. ‘His mother saw the carriage empty and the charioteer returning alone.
With her eyes filled with tears she wept and watched for him:
51. “This charioteer comes and has killed my own child.
My son has now been killed and increases the soil in the earth.
52. Now bitter enemies rejoice, delighted.
But I see the charioteer returning after killing my own child.”
53. A mother sees an empty chariot and the charioteer returning, alone.
With eyes filled with tears she weeps and implores:
54. “Was he deaf, was he crippled, did he wail when you struck him on the ground?
Tell me this, charioteer.
55. How did a deaf cripple ward you off with his hands and feet,
when struck on the ground? I have asked: tell me this!”’
[20] The charioteer said:
56. ‘I will tell you, lady, but you must grant me my immunity,
for what you hear and see from me about my time with the prince.’
And then Queen Canda said:
57. ‘I grant you immunity, sir. Speak without fear, charioteer,
about what you heard and what you saw when you were with the prince.’
Then the charioteer said:
58. ‘He was not dumb, not crippled, but clear in speech.
He said that he was frightened of kingship and so practised many ruses.
59. He remembers an earlier birth in which he ruled a kingdom,
and after he had ruled this kingdom he fell to a terrible hell.
60. For twenty years he ruled the kingdom,
but for eighty thousand he cooked in hell.
61. He was frightened of his kingdom and not wanting a royal anointment;
because of this he did not speak when in the presence of his father and mother.
62. Endowed with all his limbs, of good height and girth, clear in speech,
he stands, wise, on the path to heaven.
63. And if you wish to see the
prince, your own child,
go and I will bring you to where Temiya does his practices.’
[21] Now, when the prince had sent the charioteer off, he wished to live as an ascetic. Knowing his intention Sakka gave an order to Vissakamma, 40‘Sir, Prince Temiya wishes to become an ascetic: go and create a leaf hut for him and the requisites for an ascetic’. He agreed and went with speed and created a hermitage in a woodland thicket three yojanas in length. He made it so that it had a place for the night and one for the day, a bathing pool, a well and fruit-bearing trees. He created the requisites for an ascetic and then went back to his own abode. The Great Being saw it and, realizing it was a present from Sakka, entered the leaf hut, took off his clothes, dressed himself in inner and outer garments made of red bark and put on the hide of a black antelope, making it go over his shoulder. He tied his braided hair into a bun. Putting a carrying pole on his shoulder and taking a walking stick he left the leaf hut; he walked up and down, making a display of the glory of being an ascetic. He made a joyful utterance, ‘Ah, the happiness, the happiness!’ Then he entered the leaf hut and, sitting on a mat of sticks and twigs, attained the five knowledges. 41 In the evening he left and gathered some leaves from a kara tree, situated at the end of the walkway, soaked them in water in a vessel given by Sakka, without salt or buttermilk or flavouring, and enjoyed eating it as much as if it were ambrosia. Then he cultivated the four divine abidings and arranged his dwelling there.
Now the king of Kasi heard Sunanda’s report and summoned the general, telling him to prepare for the journey.
64. ‘Yoke the chariot horses; tie the belt to the elephants,
Sound the conch horns and cymbals, beat the drums.
65. Let the fastened kettle drums roar and the bass drum sound,
Let the city people come with me,
I will go to speak with my son!
66. Ladies, princes, merchants and Brahmins:
Have their chariots yoked quickly,
I will go to speak with my son!
67. Mahouts, bodyguards, charioteers and foot soldiers:
Have their carriages yoked quickly;
I will go to speak with my son!
68. A crowd of country people, and a crowd of people from the city too:
Have their carriages yoked quickly;
I will go to speak with my son!’
[22] Just as the king had ordered, the charioteers had the horses yoked to the chariots, stood them at the royal gate and informed the king.
The Thus-gone in explanation as Teacher said:
69. ‘Sindh horses are yoked to swift vehicles and
charioteers approach the palace gate: “these horses are yoked, sire”.’
Then the king said:
70. ‘Fat horses fall behind in speed, scrawny ones fall behind in staying power.’
(They said to the charioteer, “Do not bring such horses!)
The horses were harnessed together, avoiding the fat and the scrawny.’
So the king went into the presence of his son after he had assembled the four castes, eighteen guilds, and the entire body of his army. He took over three days to bring together the entire force. On the fourth day he left, having brought together all those to be collected, and went to the hermitage. Welcomed by his son, he gave him his greetings.
In explanation the Teacher said:
71. ‘The king, rushing, mounted the yoked chariot;
He addressed his apartment of women: “all of you, follow me!
72. [With] chowrie, turban, sword and white parasol
Let the royal slippers, adorned in gold, mount the carriage. 42
73. And then the king set out, accompanied by his charioteer,
and came quickly to the place where Temiya practised.
74. When he saw him approach, in glory, as if on fire,
surrounded by his assembly of warriors, Temiya said:
75. “Dear father, I hope you are well, I hope that you are in good health!
I hope that all the queens, my mothers, too are well.”
76. “I am indeed well, my son; I am in very good health
and all the queens, your mothers, are well.”
77. “I hope you do not drink, father, I hope that spirits are not dear to you.
I hope that your mind delights in truthfulness, just actions and generous gifts.”
78. “Indeed I do not drink, my son, and spirits are not dear to me.
And moreover I do delight in truthfulness, just actions and generous gifts.”
79. “I hope your oxen are in good health, and the animals that pull the waggon too.
I hope there is no illness in you, that affects the body.”
80. “My oxen are in good health and the animals that pull the waggon too.
There is indeed no illness in me, nor torment in the body.”
81. “I hope the borderlands are prosperous, and that the midlands are crowded too.
I hope the treasury and the granary are quite full.
82. Welcome to you, great king, you are not unwelcome.
Let them set up a couch where the king will sit.”’
[23] And then the Great Being said, ‘If he sits cross-legged let them provide a rush mat,’ and gave a verse upon that which had been prepared.
83.‘Sit right here upon this seat that has been set:
They will bring water from there and bathe your feet.’
The king, out of respect, did not sit upon the rush mat but sat on the ground. The Great Being entered the leaf hut and took out a kara leaf and with this invited the king, and spoke a verse:
84. ‘I have cooked this leaf of mine without salt: eat it great king,
You have come as my guest.’
And then the king said:
85. ‘I do not eat 43 leaves, it is not my food:
I eat fine rice, boiled rice, white, with a curry of pure meat poured over it.’
At that moment Queen Canda came surrounded by her ladies. She clasped the feet of her son and paid homage to him, and with her eyes filled with tears sat down to one side. And then the king said, ‘Dear lady, see this food of our son’s!’ and put a bit of the leaf into her hand and then gave it to the other ladies bit by bit. They all said, ‘My lord, how do you eat such food!’ They took it, and said, ‘You are going through great hardship, my lord!’ and sat down. The king said, ‘Dear son, this is just extraordinary to me.’ And spoke a verse:
86.‘It appears extraordinary to me:
that even though you are alone and secluded, eating such food, your complexion is bright!’
[25] And then he gave an explanation to him and said:
87. ‘I lie alone, sire, on a laid-out mat.
Through my solitary bed, sire, my complexion is bright.
88. No royal guards stand over me, armed with swords.
Because of my happy bed, sire, my complexion is bright.
89. I do not grieve over the past; I do not yearn for the future.
I live in the present, and so my complexion is bright.
90. By yearning for the future and regretting the past:
Through this, the strong wither, like a fresh reed cut down.’ 44
The king thought, ‘I’ll anoint him right here and take him with me.’ So he spoke these verses inviting him to the kingdom:
91. ‘My army of elephants, my army of chariots, horses, foot soldiers,
armoured soldiers and my delightful palaces I give to you, my son.
92. My women’s quarters, adorned in every way, I give to you, my son.
Go into them, my son, for you will be our king.
93. Beautiful and skilled women, expert in song and dance, will make love to you:
O what will you do in the forest?
94. I will bring you adorned girls from enemy kings:
When you have produced sons from these
then you can go afterwards as an ascetic!
95. You are young and strong, in the first part of life, a boy.<
br />
Rule the kingdom, dear one:
O what will you do in the forest?’
In response to this the Bodhisatta gave words of teaching:
96. ‘A young man should lead the holy life:
The one who leads the holy life should be youthful.
Going forth as a young man: this is praised by the wise.
97. [26] A young man should lead the holy life:
the one who leads the holy life should be youthful.
I will live the holy life and do not want the kingdom.
98. I watch as a young boy, obtained with difficulty,
says ‘dear dad’, then, not even reaching old age, dies.
99. I watch as a young daughter, lovely to behold,
wasting away, like a cut bamboo shoot, is broken down in death.
100. Even the young die, men and women;
As to that you would trust in life, saying, I am young?
101. For surely, the lifespan of a youth may be very short,
like the lifespan of fishes in little water.
102. The world is constantly attacked and constantly surrounded,
As things pass by unfailingly;
Why would you anoint me in kingship?
103. By whom is this world afflicted?
By whom is it surrounded?
What passes by, 45 unfailingly?
Now I have asked, answer me this.
104. By death the world is afflicted.
By old age it is surrounded.
The passing of nights goes unfailingly.
Know this, warrior.
105. Just as whatever is to be woven by a stretched thread,
O king, is limited, in this way our mortal life is to be woven.
106. Just as a full, water-carrying river moves and does not go backwards,
So the lifespan of mortals goes by and does not return.
107. Just as a full, water-carrying river moves
and takes with it the trees sprung up at its bank,
So living beings are surely taken by old age and death.’
[27] When king heard the dhamma talk from the Great Being he wished to become an ascetic and leave the household life. ‘I will not go back to the city, I will become an ascetic right here. And if my son should go to the city I’ll give him the white parasol.’ So to test him he invited him to the kingdom again:
108. ‘My army of elephants, my army of chariots, horses, foot soldiers
armoured soldiers and my delightful palaces I give to you, my son.