Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/242

126 The king was deeply agitated; and he departed instantly, gathering up his robe in his hand, and went quickly and stood before the Blessed One, and said, "Why, Master, do you put us to shame? Why do you go begging for your food? Do you think it impossible to provide a meal for so many monks?"

"This is our custom, O king!" was the reply.

"Not so, Master! our descent is from the royal race of the Great Elected; and amongst them all not one chief has ever begged his daily food."

"This succession of kings is your descent, O king! but mine is the succession of the prophets (Buddhas), from Dīpaŋkara and Kondanya and the rest down to Kassapa. These, and thousands of other Buddhas, have begged their daily food, and lived on alms." And standing in the middle of the street he uttered the verse —

292. Rise up, and loiter not! Follow after a holy life! Who follows virtue rests in bliss, Both in this world and in the next."

And when the verse was finished the king attained to the Fruit of the First, and then, on hearing the following verse, to the Fruit of the Second Path —

293. Follow after a holy life! Follow not after sin! Who follows virtue rests in bliss. Both in this world and in the next.

And when he heard the story of the Birth as the Keeper of Righteousness, he attained to the Fruit of the Third Path. And just as he was dying, seated on the royal couch under the white canopy of state, he attained to