Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/318

 310 Then the god replies:—

The woman having heard this exclaims, "For shame! why speakest thou thus? I would, were it possible, do my best to make my grandson live for ever." Then she utters the following gátha:—

Then Indra makes answer:—

And now having thus spoken, Indra, by his divine power, stood in the air arrayed in all his glory, and addressed the old wife: "Kaccâni, fear not! By the exercise of my mighty power I'll cause thy son and his wife to meet thee on the road and to sue for thy forgiveness. They will receive it and go back in peace. Live vigilantly." When he had thus spoken he returned to his own realms. Then the young couple, moved by Indra's divine power, recollected the old mother's good qualities. "Where's our mother?" they inquired of the villagers. "She's gone in the direction of the cemetery," said they. On hearing this they went in search of her, calling out "Mother! mother!" While on the way to the cemetery they espied her, forthwith fell at her feet, and propitiated her with these words: "O mother, pardon our offence." She forgave them, and moreover caught up her little grandson and embraced him. So they went home the best of friends, and from that time forward lived together in perfect harmony. The following is the Buddha's verse:—

(To be continued.)