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"Anuruddha, my child, both you and your brother are my darling sons. I shall not turn away from you even after my death. So how I permit you to go when I am still alive? I cannot give you permission".
Anuruddha did not give up his hope. He repeated his intention for a second time, and then for a third time. But the mother remained firm about her disapproyal. At last, she devis ed a strategy to prevent him, which was as, follows. At this time, Bhaddiya was the king of the Sakyas. He happened to be a great friend of Anuruddha. The mother knew for certain that Bhaddiya would never be ready to join the monastic order. So she said,
"If Bhaddiya joins the monastic order, then, I may permit you to do the same'.
On getting such a straight reply to his difficult question, Anuruddha came to Bhaddiya and said,
"Friend ! My own initiation depends on you".
Bhaddiya - "If that be so, I permit you very gladly to be initiated and be in the monastic order".
Anuruddha - "But, friend, let us go together".
Bhaddīya - "I am not interested. But I shall gladly do anything for you. Go ahead, my dear fellow"..
Anuruddha explained to him the condition laid down by his mother for his own initiation and emphatically affirmed.
"You must come with me. You are bound by your own words. You cannot go back on your words. We must tread on the same path".
People in that age used to be truthful. Bhaddiya said to Anuruddha,
"I am not going back on my words, But I must be spared for seven years to get ready, and after that, I may go with you".
