Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

' " Thine, O King, are those four and eighty thousand dishes, in which, in the evening and in the morning, rice is served. Arise, O King, re-awaken thy desire for these, quicken thy longing after life." '

II. 'When she had thus spoken, Ananda, the Great King of Glory said to the Queen of Glory : —

' " Long hast thou addressed me, O Queen, in pleasant words, much to be desired, and sweet. Yet now in this last time you speak in words unpleasant, disagreeable, not to be desired."

' " How then, O King, shall I address thee ? ';

' " Thus, O Queen, shouldst thou address me — The nature of all things near and dear to us, O King, is such that we must leave them, divide ourselves from them, separate ourselves from them *. Pass not away,

1 The Pali words a^e the same as those at the beginning of the constantly repeated longer phrase to the same effect in the ' Book of the Great Decease.'

III. Q

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O King, with longing in thy heart. Sad is the death of him who longs, unworthy is the death of him who longs \ Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand cities, the chief of which is the royal city of Kusavati. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand palaces, the chief of which is the Palace of Righteousness. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

[193] ' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand chambers, the chief of which is the chamber of the Great Complex. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand divans, of gold, and silver, and ivory, and sandalwood, spread with long-haired rugs, and cloths embroidered with flowers, and magnificent antelope skins, covered with lofty canopies, and provided at both ends with purple cushions. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' "Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand state elephants, with trappings of gold, and gilded flags, and golden coverings of network, — of which the king of elephants, called ' the Changes of the Moon,' is the chief. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' "Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand state horses, with trappings of gold, and gilded flags, and golden coverings of network, — of which 'Thundercloud,' the king of horses, is the chief. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' "Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand chariots, with coverings of the skins of lions, and of tigers, and of panthers, — of which the chariot called 4 the Flag of Victory' is the chief. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand gems, of which the Wondrous Gem is the chief. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

1 Compare Jataka, No. 34.

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1 " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand wives, of which the Queen of Glory is the chief. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand
yeomen, of whom Wonderful Steward is the chief.
Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand
nobles, of whom the Wonderful Adviser is the chief.
Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand
cows, with jute trappings, and horns tipped with bronze.
Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

[194] ' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand myriads of garments, of delicate textures, of flax, and cotton, and silk, and wool. Cast away desire for these, long not after life.

' " Thine, O King, are these four and eighty thousand dishes, in which, in the evening and in the morning, rice is served. Cast away desire for these, long not after life." '

12. 'When he thus spake, Ananda, the Queen of
Glory wept and poured forth tears.

'Then, Ananda, the Queen of Glory wiped away her tears, and addressed the Great King of Glory, and said :