Page:Buddhist Parables.djvu/136

98 Ānanda, after many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years had gone by, the barber saw grey hairs growing on King Makhādeva's head. When he saw them, he said this to King Makhādeva: "The heavenly messengers have appeared to your majesty. Grey hairs are visible growing on your head." "Well then, master barber, extract these grey hairs carefully with a pair of tongs and place them in the hollow of my joined hands."

"Yes, your majesty," said the barber to King Makhādeva. And in obedience to his command the barber extracted those grey hairs carefully and placed them in the hollow of King Makhādeva's joined hands. And, Ānanda, King Makhādeva gave the barber a splendid village. Then, addressing his eldest son, the royal prince, he said this:

"Dear prince, the heavenly messengers have appeared to me. Grey hairs are visible growing on my head. But I have enjoyed the pleasures of earth; it is time for me to seek the pleasures of heaven. Come, dear prince, enter upon this kingdom. As for me, I will shave off my hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retire from the house-life to the houseless life. Now then, dear prince, when you also see grey hairs growing on your head, then you must give your barber a splendid village, thoroughly instruct your eldest son, the royal prince, in the duties of a king, shave off your hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retire from the house-life to the houseless life. Inasmuch as I have established this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last man to follow me. If ever, dear prince, in the lifetime of two men, one uproots the succession, he is the last man of the line. Therefore, dear prince, I say this to you: Inasmuch as I have established this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last to follow me."

Accordingly, Ānanda, King Makhādeva, having given his barber a splendid village, having thoroughly instructed his eldest son, the royal prince, in the duties of a king, in this very Makhādeva Mango Grove shaved off his hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retired from the house-life to the houseless life. He dwelt suffusing with thoughts of friendliness, compassion, sympathy, and indifference, one quarter, likewise a second, likewise a third, likewise a fourth. So likewise above, below, across,—everywhere,—