Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/184

 'Or, wert thou to desire anything else to be done from my side, Thy Reverence would favour me once more by ordering so.'

Sakra replied :

32, 33. 'I do not want villages or other boons. Know me to be the Lord of the Celestials, O King. But the speaker of wholesome words is to be honoured by accepting his words and acting up to them. For this is the way which leads to glory and bliss, and after death to the many different forms of happiness. Therefore, throw off the habit of taking intoxicating drinks. Holding fast to Righteousness you shall partake of my heaven.'

After thus speaking, Sakra disappeared on the spot, and the king, with his townsmen and landsmen, desisted from the vice of drinking strong liquors.

In this manner, then, the virtuous, considering the use of intoxicating liquors an exceedingly bad action, attended by many evils, will keep back their neighbour from this sin, how much more their own selves. [And when discoursing about the Tathâgata, this is also to be propounded : ‘In this manner the Lord was careful of the good of the world already in his previous existences.'

The state of a householder is beset with occupations inimical to religious conduct and tranquillity. For this reason it does not please those who long only for the Self. This will be taught by the following.

One time the Bodhisattva was born in a wealthy family, noted for their virtuous mode of life and