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sensual pleasures ? Or, do you not know about my intention of renouncing my life as a householder in this world, that you are thus talking about my marriage-proposal.” They replied: - “O Prince ! we know it all. But the parent's words should always be respected and the desires of kinsmen should not be disregarded. Besides, the renouncement of the life of a householder in the latter portion of your life is not difficult, and when the wished-for desires of your parents have been perfectly satisfied, they will not be adverse to your cherished desires." Vardhamāoa Kumāra said, "Except marriage, I have taken a vow to the effect that I should not accept the vows of an ascetic so long as my parents are alive. Therefore, what harm Is there if my parents are satisfied by my leading an unmarried bachelor life? What more is there in marriage ? Because, you clearly see that the placing of pots one above the other in a row in a marriage-pavilion judicates a continuous series of ever-increasing sinful actions; the blazing fire there is suggestive of Wantonness of Infatuation; the rising of the clouds of smoke to the sky is indicative of one's light-hearted. Dess, the auspicious going four times circularly around the sacred nuptial-fire, points to the roaming in the four Gatis (transmigrations) of this Samsăra; the oblation of ghee (butter ), honey etc burns up the mass of virtuous qualities; the singing of auspicious songs by young lemales spreads his disgrace in all the directions, the flower-garland hanging from the bride groom's neck indicates the nearness of the mass of miseries, the besmearing of the body with sandal-paste seems as if the Soul were covered with a thick veil of the dirt of Karmas; and while taking the hand of the bride into the band of the bride-groom it seems as if there was a bargaining with the hand for the purchase of a very valuable object in the form of all the eight varieties of Karmas. What more can I say? On minutely examining and thinking over the ceremony at the marriage-altar, I shudder with horripilation. Leaving aside, therefore, the question of infatuation, you give me your permission that, for the satisfaction of my parents, I may lead an unmarried bachelor life,
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