Page:Gospel of Buddha.djvu/112

 Now that thou hast found the path, thou canst preach the law of immortality to all the world that yearns for deliverance."

The king returned to the palace, while the Buddha remained in the grove before the city.

XXVIII.

YASODHARA.

On the next morning the Buddha took his bowl and set out to beg his food.

And the news spread abroad: "Prince Siddhattha is going from house to house to receive alms in the city where he used to ride in a chariot attended by his retinue. His robe is like a red clod, and he holds in his hand an earthen bowl"

On hearing the strange rumor, the king went forth in great haste and when he met his son he exclaimed: "Why dost thou thus disgrace me? Knowest thou not that I can easily supply thee and thy bhikkhus with food?"

And the Buddha replied: "It is the custom of my race."

But the" king said: "How can this be? Thou art descended from kings, and not one of them ever begged for food."

"O great king," rejoined the Buddha, "thou and thy race may claim descent from kings; my descent is from the Buddhas of old. They, begging their food, lived on alms."

The king made no reply, and the Blessed One continued: "It is customary, O king, when one has found a hidden treasure, for him to make an offering of the most precious jewel to his father. Suffer me, therefore, to open this treasure of mine which is the Dharma, and accept from me this gem:"

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