Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/226

 right manner produces the highest profit. For this reason I, knowing the precepts of Righteousness and the profit arising therefrom, also moved by attachment to thee, my liege, do not cling to life.'

The Bodhisattva spoke :

35, 36. 'Verily, this is the law for the virtuous, that a friend, minding his duty, shall not abandon his friend in distress, even at the cost of his life. Now, thou didst observe the Law of Righteousness, thou didst show me thy devoted affection. Grant me then, I pray thee, this last request. Fly away, I give thee leave.

37. 'Moreover, the affair having taken this turn, it is thy task, wise-minded one, to fill up the gap caused to our friends by the loss of me.'

38. While they were thus conversing, vying with each other in mutual affection, lo, the Nishâda appeared, rushing upon them like the God of Death.

As soon as they became aware of his approach, the two excellent birds became silent. Now, the Nishâda seeing that the tribe of swans had flown away, was persuaded 'certainly, some one of them has been caught;' and going round the different places, where he had laid down his snares, discovered those two foremost swans. He was surprised at their beauty, and thinking both of them to be insnared, shook the snares placed in their neighbourhood. But when he perceived that one was caught and the other, loose and free, was keeping him company, his astonishment increased, and drawing near to Sumukha, he spoke to him:

39, 40. This bird, being caught in a strong snare, loses his freedom of movement. For this reason he cannot mount to the sky, although I approach. But thou who art not fastened, who art free and