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

' What the Lord saith touching " in pity rapt " I understand. It is when one continues to pervade one quarter of the horizon with a heart charged with pity, and so the second quarter, and so the third, and so the fourth. And thus the whole wide world, above, below, around and everywhere does one continue to pervade with a heart charged with pity, far-reaching, expanded, infinite, free from wrath and ill will. Thus do 1 understand this.

' Only in what He saith touching " loathing the foul " do I not understand thee, Lord.

' What mean'st thou by " foul odours among men,"
O Brahma ? here I understand thee not.
Tell what these signify, who knowest all.
When cloaked and clogged by what is man thus foul,
Hell-doomed, and shut off from the heaven of Brahm ? '

[243] ' Anger and lies, deceit and treachery,
Selfishness, self-conceit and jealousy,

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Greed, doubt, and lifting hands 'gainst fellow men,
Lusting and hate, dulness and pride of life, —
When yoked with these man is of odour foul,
Hell-doomed, and shut out from the heav'n of Brahm.'

4 As I understand the word of the Lord concerning these " foul odours," they cannot easily be suppressed if one live in the world. I will therefore go forth from the home into the life of the homeless state.' 1 Do, lord steward, whatever seems to you fit.' 47. Then the High Steward waited on king Re/m and said to him : — ' Will my lord now seek another minister, who will administer my lord's affairs ? I wish to leave the world for the homeless life. I am going forth in accordance with the word of Brahma which I have heard concerning- foul odours. These cannot be easily suppressed when one is living in the world.

1 King Re«u, lord o' the land, I here declare : —
Do thou thyself take thought for this thy realm !
I care no longer for my ministry.'

' If for thy pleasures aught there lacketh yet,
I'll make it good. If any injure thee,
Them I'll restrain, warlord and landlord I !
Thou art my father, Steward, lo ! I am thy son !
Abide with us, Govinda, leave us not.'

' Naught lack I for my pleasures, nor is there One who doth injure me. But I have heard Voices unearthly. Henceforth home holds me not.'

[244] ■ What like is this Unearthly ? What did He say To thee, that having heard thou will straightway Forsake our house and us and all the world ? '

' Ere I had passed through this Retreat, my care
Was for due altar-rites, the sacred fire
Was kindled, strewn about with kusa-grass.
But lo ! Brahma I saw, from Brahma's heav'n,
Eternal god. I asked ; he made reply ;
I heard. And now irksome is home to me.'

T 2

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' Lo ! I believe the words that thou hast said.
Govinda. Having heard the Unearthly Voice.
How could it be thou should'st act otherwise ?
Thee will we follow after. Be our guide,
Our teacher ! So, like gem of purest ray,
Purg'd of all dross, translucent, without flaw, —
As pure as that we'll walk according to thy word.'

' If the honourable Steward goes forth from the home into the homeless, I too will do the like. For whither thou goest, I will go.'

48. Then the High Steward, the brahmin, waited upon the six nobles, and said to them : ' Will my lords now seek another minister who will administer my lords' affairs ? I wish to leave the world for the homeless life. I am going forth in accordance with the word of Brahma which I have heard concerningfoul odours. These cannot be easily suppressed when one is living in the world.'

Then the six nobles went aside together [245] and thus deliberated : — ' These brahmin folk are greedy for money. What if we were to gain him over through money?' And coming to the High Steward they said : — ' There is abundance of property, sir, in these seven kingdoms. Wherefore, sir, take of it as much as seems profitable to you.'