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Bhagawan Mahavir]
[205
now. We have intended several time to place this proposal before him, but thinking that our courage would not stand before his arguments about renunciation we could not do so. We shall try once more with your help, to inform the prince of our intention. We shall entrust this work to his own friends and companions. By the good luck of the princess, our desires may be fulfilled through them.
King Siddhartha then sent for the friends and companions of Vardhamana. When they arrived in the royal palace, he instructed them about their duty which they had to do that day. He also gave them various kinds of temptations so that they might endeavour to persuade the prince with application and sincerity. The friends, then, went to the prince and resumed their work as usual. After that, they approached the prince one by one, and cleverly avoiding the proposal of his marriage, they began to talk on various other topics. Finding a suitable opportunity, some selected friends put before him the proposal of his marriage, which was supported by all unanimously. As soon as the prince came to know the intention of his friends, he said:
'My dear friends! You are living in my company for a long time, and are perfectly acquainted with my temperament. You must have clearly marked my feelings of detachment for this world. Still you talk like this. I really pity you very much for such impure ideas of yours."
The friends said:
"Dear Prince! You are right. We understand your mind quite well. We also know that material happiness is not worth a hundredth part of spiritual happiness gained by renunciation. But your contact itself has taught us also to feel that it is the duty of every son to obey his parents. We
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