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body without help. The Bodhi-sattva saw the man from a distance, and said to his carioteer:
"Who is this fellow? His eyes are so different. Even his voice is different."
Charioteer. "Deva ! He is a sick man. His body has become weak due to disease. Perhaps he cannot rise now."
- Bodhi-sattva - Does it mean that I too am under the same inexorable law about disease? Is sickness unavoidable ?
Charioteer -."'Deva ! It is so. It cannot be avoided."
This came as a shock to the Bodhi-sattva. At his order, the chariot was at once turned back towards the palace.
The prince's indifference did not escape the attention of the king, and as a further precaution, he extended the check-posts upto a distance of three quarters of a yojana.
One day, the Bodhisattva was out in his chariot. On the way, he saw a scene again placed by the gods. He saw that at a distance, some men were busy making something. The Bodhi-sattva 'asked his charioteer what these men were busy at. Said the charioteer.
*Deva.! It seems that somebody is dead. The members of his family, friends and kinsmen are preparing for his creamation".
The Bodhi-sattva directed the charioteer to proceed thither. When the Bodhi-sattvå had reached the spot, he saw the dead body and said,
What do you mean by dead' ?*
Charioteer. "Deva'! Now this fellow has no more relation with his parent, friends or kinsmen. Neither will he see them any more, nor will they. His relation with them is now cut off for ever."
