________________
CONTENTS.
(9. BHAVA.
A few days later they extolled the yalue of friendship; the prince assented to their proposition in a general way. But, he said, there are three kinds of friends: the inferior, the middle, and the excellent ; only the last one is of real value. He explained that the Body is the inferior friend, the middle one are the Relations who lenve one on death, and Religious Merit only
t friend who accompanies one even after death.! And he instricted his companions how to exert themselves in order to reach the summum bonum. 719, 3. .
Once in spring during Madana's festival when the towns. people were amusing themselves in the park with songs and all sorts of shows, the most respected citizens invited the king to grace their holiday by his presence. The king replied that he would send the prince as his deputy; for he was anxious that he should have some diversion. Accordingly Samariditya, in a richly decorated carriage and accompanied by a train of elegant persons, went to the park where he witnessed the shows and xports of the people; he humoured their frolic, though he deplored their folly. 723, 9.
Proceeding further he saw a man in n deplorable condition lying on the plinth of a templo. With a design of awakening the people he inquired of the charioteer what kind of show that was; and when the latter rephed it was no show, but a man overcome by disease, he drew his sword and called upon the Discase cither to release her victim or to get ready for fight. All singing and playing ceased in-tantly, and the people drew round the carriage. The charioteer explained to the prince the nature of disease ; against it there was only one remedy, which is administered by the Law. The spectators confirining this statemont, the prince asked them why they did not exert themselves to get rid of their common enemy, Disease. They entreated him, however, not to disturh their holiday, but to look at their sports. 725, 12. Next the prince beheld a helpless couple in ex
Compare Parifięta Parvan III, 149, fi.
The following story appears to be an adaptation from the Legend of Buddha, viz. his four sights in the park which led him to abandon his homo. In Haribhadra's account, however, the fourth sight, an ascetio, is wanting.
