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If the moon shall withdraw her digit, the giver tribute, the cloud
rain, In these cases, how shall the world manage to subsist ? The ocean, intent only on accumulation, has sunk down to the abyss; But, see, the cloud, the giver, roars above the firmament. The seas leave their place, the mighty mountains move; But even amid dissolving worlds great ones leave not their promised
vow.' The prince, having heard this, began again to give charity, and the king heard of it. The king forbade his entering the palace. The prince was grieved in his soul. He said to himself : "When illness, defilement, poverty, dishonour, or the rainy season
comes, Except a foreign land, there is no happiness here for men of spirit.' Having formed this resolution, he mounted his horse in the middle of the night, when people were not about, and set out in a certain direction. His friend Sajjana also went with him. As they were going along, they conversed as follows. The prince said: "Sajjana, tell me some news.' He said : Prince, of virtue and vice, which is preferable ?' The prince said : O fool, • Women, children, herdsmen, ploughboys even, know this clearly, That from virtue comes triumph, but by vice is brought about
destruction.' Sajjana said: 'I am a fool, no doubt ; but with regard to virtue and vice, say what is virtue and what is vice.' The prince said : True speech, devotion to one's spiritual teacher, almsgiving accord
ing to one's power, compassion to the afflicted, This is virtue that procures men objects of desire, and keeps off
calamity. The opposite of this is vice.' Sajjana said : Come, prince, virtue brings about destruction, and vice produces success ; for you are now reduced to such a miserable condition, though you are virtuous. So how can virtue bring success? Therefore it is incumbent on you now to practise vice. Acquire wealth by some such an occupation as robbery.' The prince said: 'Sajjana, do not speak like that.
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