Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/236

120 Now from the time when they attain Arahatship the Arahats become indifferent to worldly things: so he did not deliver the king's message to the Sage. The king, seeing that neither did his messenger return, nor was any message received from him, called another courtier in the same manner as before, and sent him. And he went, and in the same manner attained Arahatship with his followers, and remained silent. Then the king in the same manner sent nine courtiers each with a retinue of a thousand men. And they all, neglecting what they had to do, stayed away there in silence.

And when the king found no one who would come and bring even a message, he thought, "Not one of these brings back, for my sake, even a message: who will then carry out what I say?" And searching among all his people he thought of Kāḷa Udāyin. For he was in everything serviceable to the king, — intimate with him, and trustworthy. He was born on the same day as the future Buddha, and had been his playfellow and companion.

So the king said to him, "Friend Kāḷa Udāyin, as I wanted to see my son, I sent nine times a thousand men; but there is not one of them who has either come back or sent a message. Now the end of my life is not far off, and I desire to see my son before I die. Can you help me to see my son?"

"I can, O king!" was the reply, "if I am allowed to become a recluse."

"My friend," said the king, "become a recluse or not as you will, but help me to see my son!"

"And he respectfully received the king's message, with the words, "So be it, O king!" and went to Rājagaha; and stood at the edge of the disciples at the time of the Master's instruction, and heard the gospel, and attained Arahatship with his followers, and was received into the Order.

The Master spent the first Lent after he had become